News: CSF to enhance public-private partnership
Name of NewsPaper: National Herald (Tribune)
Date of Publication: Tuesday, 18 September , 2007
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KARACHI, Sept 17: Upto $ 125,000 can be financed for innovative projects, research and development machinery and its training, to associations, groups or a cluster under "matching grants", a window of competitive support fund (CSF) of USAID. This was stated by the manager "matching grants" of CSF, Usman Ahmed Khan during a recently held presentation at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Zonal Office Lahore on "Competitive Support Fund". He said that CSF is one of the projects working under USAID for the economic development and uplift of Pakistan. According to FPCCI here Monday, the meeting was presided by Rehmatullah Javed, Member Managing Committee and Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on "Competitiveness". CSF is a USAID and Ministry of Finance initiative and has been established to make Pakistani industry more efficient. It has provided a platform by linking finance to innovation and competitiveness for promoting sustained economic development in the country. CSF will also provide technical assistance and co-financing for initiatives related to entrepreneurship, business incubators and private sector led initiatives with research institutes and universities that contribute in creating a knowledge driven economy. Furthermore, it will enhance public private partnership within the country to accomplish such projects for eradication of poverty and generate employment, income products and services so that the country can flourish economically and prosper through increased efficiency and innovation. It will be a joint initiative by the public private and the academia for innovation, increased efficiency and planned business called "Triple Helix" for sustained economic growth in Pakistan. Rehmatullah Javed, Chairman Committee on Competitiveness FPCCI said that such opportunities must be availed so that production is increased to achieve our export targets and all the other sectors of life may uplift their values for the better humanity and to achieve competitiveness in every sector to make Pakistan a better rated country in the global ratings. He said Pakistan is rated 91 in the list of global ratings and we must work hard to come down to 60 very soon.