RAWALPINDI: The United Nations Industrial D e v e 1 o p m e n t Organisation (UNIDO) is supporting Pakistani entrepreneurs involved in small and medium sized enterprises (SME) as well as start-ups with ideas that teal with today`s imperative energy, environmental and economic challenges through a competition-based approach, a UNIDO team said on Friday.

Led by Shahina Waheed, the team met with local industrialists to increase collaboration on UNIDO`s Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP).

Ms Waheed commended the role of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) in promoting business activities and taking the lead in new initiatives. Highlighting the role of UNIDO and GCIP, she added that their prime objective was to assist the Pakistani industrial sector`s sustainable development process.

She said GCIP focuses on fostering emerging and commercially viable clean technology start-ups to fuel green industrial growth in the country, while SMEs are provided with training, mentoring and access to potential investors.

Through the cleantech ecosystem and accelerator approach, GCIP catalyses investment to support and accelerate start-up entrepreneurs towards the development and commercialisation of their innovative ideas, she added.

Ms Waheed said GCIP would continue to collaborate with the RCCI on initiatives aimed at industrial and entrepreneurial development.

Earlier during the visit, RCCI President Raja Amer Iqbal had welcomed the team and lauded its efforts in capacity building for business institutes and communities. He also gave a short speech on RCCI`s key initiatives to promote trade relations and business activities in the country and the region.

He added that the RCCI Women Business Incubation Centre was in its final stages, and aimed to provide women with a platform to excel as entrepreneurs.

He also expressed the hope that the chamber would collaborate with GCIP to train and conduct seminars to promote SMEs in the country.