Since the start of "Smeda-Jica Industry Support Programme" in March 2004, more than 103 factories in different sectors of textile industry (including 18 spinning, 24 weaving, 24 knitting, 32 garment factories and 5 training institutes) have received the direct benefit including technical know-how in the country.
According to an official source, an Industry Support Cell (ISC) is actively working at SMEDA for its internal capacity building and to continue this program after the departure of JICA SVs under the SMEDA-JICA Industry Support Program.
SMEDA and JICA (Japan International Co-operation Agency) have initiated an Industry Support Program in Pakistan. These two organisations are working together to provide technical assistance to various industrial sectors through Japanese Senior Experts.
In order to provide support to textile industry with the modern techniques, methodology and effective management systems and to cope with the challenge of post WTO regime, JICA has placed five textile experts as Senior Volunteers (SVs) at SMEDA for two years.
SVs including Kunihiro Sakai Co-ordinator and Marketing Expert, Kotaro Otaka Garments Expert, Tomio Fuwa Spinning Expert, Akira Matsuda Weaving Expert and Takao Miyazaki Knitting Expert are presently working for technical support to Textile Industry in Pakistan.
An Industry Support Cell (ISC) has also been established at SMEDA for its internal capacity building and to continue this program after the departure of JICA SVs. This cell comprises of textile professionals and interpreters at Lahore and Karachi. These professionals are working closely with the SVs.
With more than 35 years of experience, coupled with pertinent education in respective fields, these experts are here to transfer their knowledge, expertise and methodology to the local industry on truly voluntary basis. As a part of the program, Japanese experts are being attached with individual industrial units for five to eight working days. During the stay they provide necessary guidance on the production floor for improvement of management and production systems, improving productivity, efficiency, quality and cost controls etc.
Through a feedback mechanism, it has been observed that industry is feeling a significant impact in productivity, Optimal capacity utilisation, management techniques, cost controls and skill up-gradation at middle management level, On-the-Job-training, minimising rejections, awareness of international quality standards and cultural change by introducing concept of 'Continuous Improvement'.
It is estimated that around 200 industrial units will benefit from the program during the two years stay of SVs in Pakistan. After the departure of these SVs, the Industry Support Cell at SMEDA with Pakistani professionals will continue to provide these services.
It is anticipated that the program will lead to improvement of textile industry at various steps of the value chain. These improvements will lead to higher productivity of Pakistani manpower and better product quality for enhancing exports for the textile sector.
In order to share the benefits of the expertise and knowledge of the Japanese Experts, SMEDA-JICA Industry Support Program managers invited the business community especially manufacturers to yield benefits.