ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Chairman Mashhood Ali Khan and PUM Country Coordinator Frans Fiedeman signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Engineering Development Board (EDB), Islamabad.
EDB CEO Mirza Nasir Baig and PUM representative Raazia Shakir were also present. The MoU will be effective for next three years.
CEO, EDB advised to draw maximum benefit from the Senior Experts available with PUM for making improvement in the automobile sector and bring it at par with international standards by adopting good manufacturing practices in the country.
The PAAPAM head said that the automobile sector largely consists of small and medium sized industries facing issues like non-conforming parts, timely deliveries due to skill gaps of employees, process inefficiencies, awareness in advanced manufacturing technologies. To tackle these issues PAAPAM signed MoU to get expertise from PUM-The Netherlands Experts to build capacity of small and Medium Entrepreneurs on modern lines, which will eventually lead to higher efficiency and productivity of the domestic auto industry.
PUM is a non-profit organisation, that promotes self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship and the sustainable development of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries and emerging markets, PUM provides SMEs with business support and technical assistance through deploying senior experts as volunteer professionals during short term missions geared at transfer of knowledge and expertise. PUM operates in various countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, executing a large number of missions with a network of about 1500 senior volunteers all having around 20 years or more business experience.
Under the agreement PUM-The Netherlands will send a fact finding mission of experts to Pakistan which will provide services for member units of auto sector for brining identification of the problem areas of the local industry and suggesting improvements. Based upon the fact findings, PAAPAM and PUM Experts will assess the training needs after which they will mutually construct and plan training programs for auto parts manufacturers to bridge the gaps identified in various areas etc. The fact finding mission of experts will work in collaboration with EDB and shall also visit interested units of the auto sector.
