A high-level delegation from Alibaba met Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan last week to explore avenues for enhancing digital commerce within the country.
Minister Jam Kamal Khan expressed his full support for advancing e-commerce initiatives, stressing the importance of bridging the gap between traditional commerce and the digital marketplace. He reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Commerce and the government to boost trade volumes.
Emphasizing the need for close collaboration between the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Alibaba, Minister Khan urged turning these collaborations into actionable strategies.
The Alibaba delegation, comprising Rocky Lu, Head of Alibaba.com Pakistan Business; Berry Ma, Head of Marketing for Southeast Asia; and Alicia Lu, Head of PR for Southeast Asia, expressed gratitude for the minister’s support. They conveyed optimism for the future and outlined plans to expand operations in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Alibaba, the Chinese multinational company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet and technology, has expressed its intention to deepen its presence in Pakistan underscoring its commitment to fostering economic growth and tapping into the country’s thriving e-commerce potential.
As Pakistan strives to harness the benefits of digital commerce, collaborations with global entities like Alibaba are expected to unlock transformative economic opportunities, driving progress and prosperity nationwide.
Alibaba collaborating with Pakistan’s TDAP
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been received from Alibaba Group, for the improvement of connectivity with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to penetrate rural and urban areas of Pakistan.
Alibaba and TDAP have announced a series of training programs aimed at empowering Pakistani businesses, particularly small and medium-sized exporters, with essential tools and knowledge for global success. Alongside this announcement, Alibaba.com introduced its latest offering, Smart Assistant, to enhance the international trade capabilities of Pakistani exporters on its platform.
The announcement took place during the 2024 Global B2B Digital Export Summit, themed “Smart Up Your Trade, Leading Your Way,” where industry experts including Shahzad Ahmed Khan, Director General of TDAP, and Rocky Lu, Head of Pakistan Business at Alibaba.com, shared insights.
Shahzad Ahmed Khan highlighted the collaboration as a significant step towards digital empowerment for Pakistani SMEs, emphasizing the joint effort to provide advanced B2B e-commerce skills. “Our joint effort with Alibaba.com to plan a series of training programs is a significant move towards the digital empowerment of Pakistani SMEs. By combining our resources, we are equipping local businesses with advanced B2B e-commerce skills and strategic vision for their success on the global stage,” he stated.
Alibaba delegation meets Pakistan Single Window team
Rocky Lu and Berry Ma also visited the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) office and met their team led by PSW CEO Aftab Haider. The discussions centered on empowering Pakistani SMEs through digital technologies and e-commerce platforms to engage in international trade.
The meeting highlighted mutual interests in enhancing SME participation in global markets. PSW aims to facilitate cross-border e-commerce trade procedures, aligning with Alibaba.com’s commitment to empowering businesses.
The Alibaba.com team elaborated on their platform’s role in showcasing Pakistani SME products to global buyers. Additionally, they introduced their AI tool, ‘Smart Assistant,’ which aids businesses in optimizing operations and enhancing efficiency.
