Meezan Bank has signed two Exchanges of Letters with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s Investment and Technology Promotion Office in Bahrain (UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain) and the International Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ICEI) to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and women and youth entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Under the initiative, the bank plans to establish a dedicated in-house Focus Group that will provide non-financial business development services to help enterprises become investment-ready. The initiative will use the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion (EDIP) methodology developed by UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain. The agreements were signed by Dr. Syed Amir Ali, President and Chief Executive Officer of Meezan Bank; Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain; and H.E. Sheikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and ICEI. The collaboration brings together a Pakistani Islamic bank and international entrepreneurship support organisations to address business development needs beyond access to financing.
The proposed Focus Group will operate within Meezan Bank and provide structured advisory services to entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking to improve their operations, prepare for investment and pursue sustainable growth. The EDIP methodology is designed to help businesses develop the capabilities needed to attract investment and engage with potential partners. According to details of the collaboration, UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain will support the design, establishment and operation of the Focus Group by sharing its methodology, tools and best practices. The organisation will also provide guidance on the unit’s operational framework and help train designated bank staff and advisers. This arrangement is intended to introduce a structured enterprise development approach into the bank’s support for businesses. The initiative also recognises that many smaller enterprises need assistance with planning, business management and investment readiness before they can make effective use of external capital or expand into new markets.
Beyond advisory support, UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain will facilitate enterprise development, investment promotion and incubation activities, while helping connect the Focus Group with national and international partners, experts and institutions. The collaboration is also expected to encourage entrepreneurship in emerging sectors, including clean energy, the marine economy, creative industries and services for senior citizens. These areas provide potential avenues for businesses seeking to develop new products, services and commercial models, although the bank has not announced specific projects, funding allocations or participation targets for the initiative. The involvement of ICEI adds another institutional partner to the effort to support entrepreneurship and enterprise development. For startups and MSMEs, connections with relevant experts and business networks can help them understand market opportunities and prepare for investment discussions. The programme’s practical impact will depend on how the Focus Group translates the EDIP methodology into services that entrepreneurs can access and apply to their individual business requirements.
The initiative highlights the role banks can play in supporting small businesses through services that complement conventional financing. While access to capital is important for business expansion, entrepreneurs may also require guidance on financial planning, business models, operational processes and investment preparation. By creating an in-house support group, Meezan Bank intends to bring these non-financial services into its broader engagement with businesses. Dr. Syed Amir Ali has emphasised the importance of guidance, skills and business connections alongside financing, while UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain has described the initiative as a potential platform for entrepreneurship support within the banking sector. However, the partners have not yet disclosed a launch date, the number of businesses expected to participate, the detailed service structure or a dedicated budget. These details will help determine the programme’s reach and effectiveness. The collaboration establishes a framework for supporting entrepreneurs, with implementation and measurable outcomes expected to clarify how the initiative contributes to business development and investment readiness in Pakistan.
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