Joint SME Training Centre Strengthens Pakistan-China Ties
In a strategic move to strengthen vocational education and empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), China and Pakistan have deepened their collaboration through a landmark conference hosted by the Gansu Finance and Trade Professional College (GFTPC) in Lanzhou, China. The event marked the official launch of the China-Pakistan SME Entrepreneurship and Management Vocational Education Branch, a new initiative under the China-Pakistan Digital Education Alliance.
P.c. China Pakistan Economic Corridor
This milestone initiative was built on the foundation of a Letter of Cooperation signed in December 2024 between KP TEVTA (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority) and GFTPC, facilitated by UNI International. The newly established branch will design and promote vocational training programmes tailored to SMEs, while also enhancing academic exchange between institutions in both countries.
The event brought together a broad range of stakeholders including education leaders, institutional partners, and technical experts. A key highlight was the inauguration of the GFTPC Overseas Training Base and the SME Entrepreneurship and Management Pakistan Training Centre. These centres, operating under KP TEVTA’s jurisdiction, are set to deliver hands-on training in digital and entrepreneurial skills aimed at building cross-border workforce capacity.
According to Yasser Shakoor, Director of Operations and Business Development at UNI Int’l Pakistan, the initiative is designed to nurture a skilled workforce that meets modern industry demands. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in developing sustainable, skills-based education that can drive SME growth and innovation in Pakistan.