UNIDO in collaboration with Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a Business Clinic for providing training to the SMEs and start-up businesses that have qualified as semi-finalists for UNIDO’s Call for Awards 2015 of Cleantech competition.
The GEF funded initiative was part of a three years Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP), currently running in many countries including Pakistan and is aimed at developing a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem by supporting clean technology innovations in SMEs and start-up businesses so that they could maximize opportunities for achieving sustainable commercial success. In the second cycle of this competition, Pakistan got the highest number of applications among all other countries which showed the potential and talent of Pakistan in clean technology.
Speaking at the occasion, UNIDO Representative Esam Al Qararah, thanked ICCI for partnering with UNIDO to organize Business Clinic of Global Cleantech Innovation Program for SMEs and hoped that cooperation of both organizations will help in promoting green industry in the region. He said UNIDO was involved in promoting Cleantech innovation programs for SMEs around the world in order to promote inclusive and sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. He said these efforts of UNIDO in Pakistan will go a long way in promoting clean technologies for green growth and green industry in the country. He assured that UNIDO will keep providing different services to the semi-finalists including trainings, incubation services and others that would help them a lot in improving their business prospects and take their Cleantech ideas to new heights.
Addressing the Business Clinic, Muzzamil Hussain Sabri, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry stressed upon the need of providing SMEs and start-up businesses easy access to solutions, alternatives and funding support to innovate, absorb and scale up clean technologies for green growth and green industry. He said government in consultation with stakeholders, should develop a strong policy framework, dedicated funding mechanisms and more public-private partnerships that could strengthen the nexus between entrepreneurs, innovators, R&D institutions, financial institutions and knowledge providers for nurturing innovation ecosystem for SMEs in Pakistan. He hoped that Business Clinic would equip the aspiring entrepreneurs with much needed knowledge and information and help them in entrepreneurship ventures. He assured that ICCI would continue to do many projects with UNIDO for the development and support of businesses in the region.
During this business clinic many of the semifinalists’ teams shared their success stories including development of low cost solar based water purification plants, low cost high efficient solar water pumps, biomass based insulation for building construction that provided around 70% savings in heating and cooling cost etc. Total 55 semifinalists who developed innovative and unique business ideas learned how to commercialize their technology in the business clinic.