Alibaba.com has presented AI-powered solutions to help Pakistan’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) enter global markets by selling their products in innovative ways.
A high-level delegation from Alibaba.com recently visited the country, led by Shawn Yang, General Manager of the Asia-Pacific region. Mr Yang also represented Alibaba.com during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Alibaba Group’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China.
The key purpose of the visit was to develop the capacity of the relevant government departments and the private sector in Pakistan to compete with countries such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India in exports and manufacturing. The purpose of meetings with authorities and stakeholders was to discuss focus areas to help Pakistan become more competitive in the global digital trade ecosystem.
Speaking to Dawn, Mr Yang emphasised that every country tends to develop its own export niches, noting that Pakistan already has identifiable strengths in sectors such as apparel, leather goods, sports equipment, and medical instruments. “What we have suggested is that Pakistan should further promote its SME sector, and Alibaba.com will help provide global outreach for their products,” he said.
The tech giant’s delegation visited to develop the capacity of the relevant departments and the private sector
The Alibaba.com delegation also held detailed discussions with Pakistani authorities on possible areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening the country’s digital economy, accelerating industrial development, and expanding export opportunities for SMEs, which remain structurally constrained in accessing international markets.
A central component of this collaboration is the proposed “DigiSME Pakistan” initiative, being developed in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA). The AI-powered solutions designed by Alibaba.com are aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and enabling them to capture global market opportunities more effectively.
A central component of this collaboration is the proposed “DigiSME Pakistan” initiative, being developed in partnership with SMEDA
Alibaba.com’s AI-driven commerce ecosystem includes advanced algorithmic matching systems that connect Pakistani sellers with global buyers based on demand signals.
In addition, the platform has introduced a trade assurance programme, which provides transactional safeguards by guaranteeing payments and deliveries in line with pre-agreed contractual terms between buyers and sellers. This mechanism is particularly significant for first-time exporters and small enterprises, as it reduces counterparty risk in unfamiliar overseas markets and encourages participation in cross-border trade.
As part of its Pakistan engagement strategy, Alibaba.com has also partnered with 20 local companies to design structured training programmes for SMEs. These initiatives focus on building digital selling capabilities, improving product adaptation for different international markets, and embedding global e-commerce best practices into local business operations.
SMEDA, in coordination with Alibaba.com, is expected to play a central institutional role in scaling these efforts, ensuring that micro, small, and medium enterprises are not only onboarded onto digital platforms but are also able to use them effectively and sustainably. The broader ambition under this framework is to train approximately 10,000 SMEs in online trade and cross-border digital commerce.
The Alibaba.com team has suggested that Pakistani sellers concentrate on selling their goods and products in the EU, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. o support visibility and branding, a dedicated “Pakistan Pavilion” has also been launched on the platform to consolidate Pakistani offerings under a single digital storefront.
Mr Yang, who oversees business growth, strategic partnerships, and SME development initiatives across key Asia-Pacific markets, noted that small businesses globally face similar structural constraints when attempting to access international markets, while even smaller importers and traders often struggle with pricing efficiency and supplier discovery.
At the Alibaba platform, not only is the seller a small player, but the buyer is also a small player — both are engaging in cross-border trade in advanced digital economies,” he explained, highlighting the platform’s attempt to democratise access to global commerce on both ends of the transaction.
He recalled that 27 years of experience has shown that most small companies that have become large players by growing their businesses on Alibaba do not leave the platform and continue their B2B operations.
He has suggested that Pakistani youth and startups should take steps into digital commerce, adopt cross-border trade to build globally competitive businesses, and that new AI agents for sellers on the Alibaba platform will improve their marketing and product promotion.
Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, July 6th, 2026