Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica) officials have agreed to enter into the new potential sectors of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for industrial up-gradation in Pakistan. In this regard, they have identified fisheries, light engineering and automotive industry as the priority areas. This consensus was developed at a farewell meeting held by the Co-ordinator of Jica, Suzuki Manabu with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (Smeda) Chief, Shahab Khawaja at his office.

According to a spokesman of the Smeda, the new JICA Co-ordinator Koshimizu Sadahiro was accompanied Suzuki on this occasion.

From Smeda, Anjum Ahmad, Director, Special Projects and Fayyaz Riaz, Manager Jica's Senior Volunteers Programme also attended the meeting.

The outgoing JICA official Suzuki Manabu expressed deep gratitude for the co-operation extended by Smeda management during his work tenure in Pakistan.

Earlier, Shahab Khawaja, CEO Smeda thanked Suzuki for his sincere efforts to introduce the local industry with modern systems of production.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005