Influence of government supports on small and medium enterprises development: Case study of Swat Valley

The present study explores the influence of government supports on the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly the hand weaving and flour mills located in Swat Valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan. The primary data were obtained from the 30 owners/managers of the selected SME sector through interviews, focused group discussions, and personal observations using a convenience sampling technique. The obtained data were analyzed using conventional content analysis and descriptive statistics using STATA 14.0. The results indicate that government supports have a direct and positive influence on the performance of SMEs in the study area.