TARGETING LOCAL TEXTILE AND TANNERY SMEs IN PAKISTAN

In Pakistan there is a pressing need for a shift toward greater energy and resource efficient (ERE) production processes. This shift requires a technological transformation as well as increased knowledge capacity in particular in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As key drivers of local economic prosperity SMEs in the textile and tannery sectors are of particular importance to make this transformation a reality.

Leapfrogging to ERE

In this context the SCI-Pak project aims to coordinate actions at four interrelated levels. First, the project focuses on strengthening the capacity within the textile and tannery sectors, as well as in local business and industry associations through training and sharing the experience of leading European firms. Secondly, the project transfers knowledge and expertise on ERE technologies to local industrial equipment manufacturers (IEMs) through dedicated coaching tours in Europe. Third, the SCI-Pak project works to establish a supportive political and financial environment to enable local SMEs to easily and effectively leapfrog to SCP. Finally, the project establishs a sustainable production network where SMEs, IEMs, universities, policy makers and financial institutions can interact and continue to foster ERE technologies and processes over time.

The way forward

Because of positive outcomes realised to date there are plans to extend the scope of the project in order to include additional manufacturing sectors in Pakistan. The pulp & paper and the sugar sectors are under consideration for this follow up project. These sectors are particularly energy and resource intensive, are characterized by high-energy consumption costs and produce large quantities of resource wastes in production.

Background

The SCI-Pak project began in March 2009 and will wrap up in March 2012. The project is embedded within the European Commission SWITCH Asia Programme (2008-2013). Several project partners actively collaborate to deliver the SCI-Pak project, including a German and Pakistani partnership of the Iqbal Hamid Trust (IHT), the Cleaner Production Institute (CPI) of Pakistan, and ttz Bremerhaven Water Energy and Landscape Management of Germany.