The 3rd D-8 SMEs Governmental Bodies Meeting was successfully organized by the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) from 18-19 June 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting was attended by delegates from Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey and as well as representatives from Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor of Kogi State, Governor of Benue State, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, and Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME).

The participants emphasized their common conviction of the importance of SME activities as the main vehicle to increase the capacity of domestic production in D-8 Countries, which in order would boost D-8 intra-trade as well as D-8 Total trade. Furthermore Member Countries presented their national progress reports on the implementation of the 1st and 2nd SMEs Governmental Bodies Meetings. The meeting also discussed how to create an effective platform for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) funding.

Later, four working groups discussed the following items during the technical sessions: “Technical and Engineering Services Co-operation on Infrastructure Required by Small Businesses”, “Green SMEs for Green Globe” project”, “Creation of Joint Industrial Parks (Prospects/Challenges) and Discussion On Networking” and “Financing Option for Small Business and Exchange of Information of Joint Ventures”.

Also, the meeting released nine recommendations regarding the D-8 cooperation on SMEs. At the end, date and venue of the 4th D-8 SMEs Governmental Bodies Meeting was decided to hold as back-to-back meeting with the 3rd ministerial meeting on industry, which will be hosted by Bangladesh on 8th – 10th October, 2012.

The full report of the meeting can be downloaded from the website(Document & Resources menu).

 

Photos of this meeting can be viewed from  here.