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 startups, women- and youth-led businesses, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Pakistan.
Announced in Karachi on October 22, 2026, the initiative will establish a dedicated in-house Focus Group at Meezan Bank to provide non-financial services using the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion (EDIP) methodology developed by UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain.
The initiative aims to help businesses strengthen their operations, become investment-ready, access new markets and build sustainable growth by combining Islamic banking with structured enterprise development support.
Focus Group to Provide Business Advisory and Training
The proposed Focus Group will offer a range of advisory and capacity-building services to entrepreneurs and MSMEs, addressing business development needs beyond access to finance.
Its planned services include enterprise development and business advisory, training programmes, mentoring, coaching, investment-readiness support and investor matchmaking. The initiative will also facilitate technology and innovation linkages, market access, export promotion, incubation and acceleration opportunities.
Businesses will additionally be referred to suitable financial products and services offered by Meezan Bank, connecting enterprise development support with potential financing solutions.
The Focus Group is intended to help entrepreneurs improve business capabilities, strengthen competitiveness and prepare for investment opportunities.
UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain to Support Implementation
Under its agreement with Meezan Bank, UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain will help design, establish and operate the Focus Group.
Its responsibilities will include advising on the group’s structure and operational framework, transferring EDIP tools and methodologies, and training designated bank staff and advisers.
UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain will also support enterprise development, investment promotion and incubation activities while connecting the Focus Group with national and international partners, experts and institutions.
The collaboration will encourage entrepreneurship in emerging sectors, including clean energy, the marine economy, creative industries and services for senior citizens.
Meezan Bank Highlights Broader Support for Entrepreneurs
Dr. Syed Amir Ali, President and CEO of Meezan Bank, said that startups, MSMEs, and women and youth entrepreneurs were central to Pakistan’s economic future, but access to finance alone was insufficient for many businesses.
He noted that entrepreneurs also needed guidance, skills and professional connections to expand their operations.
Through the partnership with UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain and ICEI, the bank aims to introduce an international enterprise development methodology to help businesses strengthen their capabilities, access new markets and become investment-ready.
UNIDO Sees Potential for a Regional Entrepreneurship Model
Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head of UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain, described the initiative as an approach to integrating financial and non-financial services within a banking institution.
He said UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain would share its EDIP methodology, tools and international network to help establish a sustainable platform for entrepreneurs, with the potential to serve as a regional model for entrepreneurship support in the banking sector.
The collaboration is designed to make structured business development assistance more accessible to startups and smaller enterprises seeking to grow and attract investment.
ICEI Emphasises Enterprise Creation and Job Opportunities
H.E. Sheikh Ebrahim Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and ICEI, said the initiative builds on the ambition to demonstrate the viability of Islamic banking at scale in Pakistan.
He said the partnership would extend that vision towards supporting successful enterprises by helping entrepreneurs turn business ideas into sustainable operations, generate employment and create economic opportunities.
He also expressed hope that the initiative would become a model for Islamic financial institutions in Pakistan and beyond.
The partnership brings together Meezan Bank’s Islamic banking platform, UNIDO-ITPO Bahrain’s enterprise development methodology and ICEI’s entrepreneurship focus. Its implementation will determine how effectively the proposed Focus Group can help Pakistani businesses improve their readiness for investment, expand market access and achieve long-term growth.