SAFWCO-GRASP team facilitated PPAF delegation led by Mr. Sohail Bangash (PPAF-GRASP Team Lead) from Islamabad, along with partner organizations like TRDP and RDF. The GRASP team jointly visited the SMEs who were winners of a 0.5 million matching grant under cycles I and II. They visited three SMEs engaged in dairy production, including butter and ghee making, mango pickle production, and banana chips sales in district Hyderabad.

It was a successful visit by the PPAF delegation, along with partner organizations, to the SMEs who had won the 0.5 million matching grant. They tasted the banana chips and verified the products of the 03 SMEs. They also directly interacted with the SMEs regarding their business transitions and progress, and observed the overall operations of these SMEs.

The SMEs were delighted and appreciated the efforts and valuable time of the GRASP team in conducting business verification visits. The SMEs felt motivated, and it boosted their confidence in pursuing their businesses, especially if there’s a delegation visit to their area to provide feedback and assist in improving their businesses.

Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress (GRASP) is European Union (EU) funded six-year project design to reduce poverty in Pakistan by strengthening small-scale agribusiness in two provinces Balochistan & Sindh. GRASP is implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC)- the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization- in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and SAFWCO are among of the partner in Sindh Province.