The consultation was organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) jointly with the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) under the European Union funded Growth for Rural Advancement and Sustainable Progress project (GRASP).
Key stakeholders and policy makers discussed the study, being conducted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute. The event brought together key influencers and policy makers, who participated in a meaningful debate on the institutional, regulatory, and government response in the wake of the pandemic, and on how the rural economy could be assisted to recover from covid-19 adverse effects. Around 54 participants including representative from Government of Sindh and Balochistan participated.
Speaking at the event, Ovidiu MIC, Head of the EU’s Development Cooperation in Pakistan said, “Research and discussions such as these are at the center of GRASP project, seeking more inclusive solutions to policy issues. Countering an unprecedented situation, such as COVID-19, requires public and private stakeholders to work together to align development efforts and emergency response strategies to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the pandemic. There is a particular need to support SME’s which are critical for economic growth and job creation– particularly in these challenging times.”