SMEs and Startups asked to focus on Cleantech products to maximize their growth prospects

ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization organized an information session on Global Cleantech Innovation Program for SMEs and Startups in Pakistan. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Dr. Shahina Waheed, National Program Coordinator of UNIDO co-chaired the session.

The three years Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP) is currently running in 6 countries including Pakistan and its aim is to develop a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem while supporting clean technology innovations in SMEs and startup businesses to maximize their opportunities to achieve sustainable commercial success. The GCIP for SMEs in Pakistan is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the support of local partners. The Cleantech Open, the biggest Cleantech accelerator in USA, is the global partner of this program.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Shahina Waheed, National Program Coordinator of UNIDO apprised the participants that the GCIP in Pakistan is focused on fostering emerging and commercially viable clean technology startups to fuel green industrial growth in the country. She said the Competition wanted to help Pakistani entrepreneurs with the best ideas that address today’s most pressing challenges in the field of energy, environment and economy. She said the participants could apply online at http://www.cleantechopen.com/Pakistan by 15th of May 2016. The 5 best business ideas will receive USD15000 to 20,000 each (cash and services) and all the winners will be funded to participate in the Cleantech Open’s Annual Global Forum to be held in Silicon Valley, USA in February, 2017. She said maximum SMEs and startups with innovative business ideas should participate in this competition to maximize their growth prospects.

In his welcome address, Atif Ikram Sheikh, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry lauded the initiative of UNIDO for launching Global Cleantech Innovation Program for SMEs and Startups in Pakistan and hoped that this competition would provide SMEs a good opportunity to come up with innovative business ideas to address issues in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency, waste to energy and green building.  He said SMEs are engine of growth for our economy and they should be encouraged to embrace clean technologies that will help them go green & clean and compete more effectively in the international market. He was optimistic that such initiatives would go a long way in making SMEs and startup businesses to maximize their growth by adopting clean technologies.