The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan participated in a five-day intensive masterclass on e-commerce and digital trade hosted at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan in Islamabad, contributing expert guidance on digital export pathways to an accelerator programme designed to prepare a new generation of Pakistani entrepreneurs for participation in international markets.
The masterclass, titled “Building the US-Pakistan Economic Partnership,” was jointly organised by the US Mission in Pakistan, the Pakistan-US Alumni Network, and Tech Valley Pakistan, and brought together 50 entrepreneurs from across the country representing a diverse cross-section of sectors including artisan crafts, tourism, agriculture, fashion, healthcare, software development, and digital services. Over five days of hands-on training, participants developed online storefronts, explored digital trade opportunities across international platforms, and prepared export roadmaps tailored to their specific products and target markets. The programme reflects a growing recognition among Pakistani entrepreneurs that digital channels have fundamentally lowered the barriers to entry for international trade, allowing small businesses and individual creators to access global buyers directly without the capital requirements that traditional export models have historically demanded.
Representing the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan, Director General of the Services Division Rafia Syed delivered a dedicated session on Pakistan’s digital export opportunity, walking participants through the available pathways for accessing global markets through e-commerce, digital services exports, and emerging digital trade channels. The session also introduced participants to the full range of facilitation services that the Trade Development Authority offers to exporters at every stage of their international trade journey, including the Pakistan Trade Portal, National Exporters Training Programmes, Chamber Help Desks, market intelligence services, and buyer-seller matchmaking opportunities. Participants were further briefed on the authority’s flagship trade promotion platforms including PIXS, TEXPO, HEMS, FoodAg, PTM, GLOBE, and WEXNET, each of which targets specific segments of the exporter community from startups and women-led businesses to artisans, tourism operators, and small and medium enterprises, providing structured opportunities to showcase products, build international networks, and connect with verified buyers across global markets.
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