Alibaba.com has unveiled a suite of Artificial Intelligence-powered digital solutions designed to help Pakistani small and medium enterprises gain effective access to international buyers and global export markets, presenting the proposal during a meeting between a senior Alibaba delegation and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan in Islamabad.
The delegation, led by Shawn Yang, General Manager for the Asia-Pacific region at Alibaba.com, held discussions centred on implementing the DigiSME Pakistan initiative in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, alongside broader plans to expand Pakistani sellers’ reach across online export markets. The proposed programme is designed to strengthen Pakistan’s digital economy by improving the operational efficiency of small and medium enterprises and connecting them directly with international buyer demand through digital trade infrastructure rather than relying on traditional, intermediary-heavy export channels.
Haroon Akhtar Khan referenced the memoranda of understanding signed between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Alibaba Group during the Prime Minister’s recent state visit to China, framing the current discussions as a direct continuation of that high-level engagement. Khan said the platform’s services would enable Pakistani small and medium enterprises to integrate into global markets through digital trade, creating new economic opportunities and contributing measurable growth to the country’s national export figures at a time when diversifying and digitising Pakistan’s export base remains a stated government priority.
Shawn Yang highlighted the role of Artificial Intelligence-driven commerce tools in the proposed partnership, explaining that Alibaba.com’s intelligent matching systems connect Pakistani sellers directly with verified overseas buyers actively seeking relevant products, removing much of the friction and uncertainty that smaller exporters typically face when trying to identify credible international demand for their goods. He said Pakistani products were well positioned to succeed on the platform, and that expanded digital access would be critical to helping the country’s small and medium enterprise sector realise its full export potential through online commerce channels rather than depending solely on conventional trade routes.
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