In the past six years, USAID supported more than 6,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan through its Small and Medium Size Enterprise Activity program (SMEA). The closing ceremony for the 6-year SMEA program took place in Islamabad. It was attended by officials from USAID and the local business community. The details show that USAID has supported approximately 6,000 small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), 28 per cent of which were women-owned over the six-year period under the SMEA program. Grants have been granted to 141 SMEs which generated a total revenue of almost $158 million. Reed J. Aeschliman (USAID’s Mission Director) stated that USAID provided a model of partnership for private sector which led to progress in business operations, as well as policy reforms, skilled workers, and investment access. He also stated that the SMEA program demonstrates the US’s desire to encourage private business ownership.