Smeda to develop SIDC in Sialkot

Karachi: Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) is setting up Sports Industries Development Centre (SIDC) at a cost of Rs 272.61 million in Sialkot to save the multi-million dollar hand stitched soccer ball industry from the threat of extinction.

According to SMEDA, the Common Facility Centre is being set up for introducing mechanised ball technology in soccer ball industry in Sialkot, which is facing the challenge. Sialkot caters to 70 percent of the total world demand for hand stitched inflatable balls, which is equal to 40 million balls annually worth US $210 million.

The main beneficiaries would be the workforce of around 60,000 people associated with soccer ball production, and one thousand plus manufacturers cum exporters. Smeda is also setting up a Product Development Centre for Composite Materials (PDCCM) at Sialkot at a cost of Rs 382.22 million to facilitate export of composite based sports goods from US $4.3 million to US $100 million in three years.

The PDCCM would provide skilled workforce to the sector, develop machinery through reverse engineering, and provide consultancy services in setting up new industrial units.

The quantum leap in export from US $4.3 million to US $100 million would result in product diversity with 2,000 new jobs and the main beneficiaries would be 3,000 sports goods manufacturers. The project would be ready by 2011.

Similarly Agro Food Processing Facilities being set up in Multan would be ready by 2010 at a cost of Rs 135.19 million. The common facility centre in Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2006-07 for pulp extraction of various fruits in Multan would help mango growers and exporters. It would support the fruit and vegetable growers in processing and value addition of their produce and introduce vegetable and fruit processing techniques.

The Agro food based Common Facility Centre will minimise post harvest losses, estimated at 35 percent. Provision of such facility could increase income of growers and exports from the country. SMEDA is also establishing a Women Business Incubation Centre (WBIC) at Lahore to provide one window office facility to encourage women to participate in economic development and achieve economic empowerment.

It is expected that with the establishment of this centre around 800 women entrepreneurs (WEs) will be getting direct or indirect assistance through WBIC in a period of three years. The project would cost Rs 31.22 million and would be operative by 2010.