Overview
- Senior adviser Haroon Akhtar Khan chaired a high-level meeting with an Alibaba delegation and instructed the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to coordinate closely with the company to deliver the MoU signed in May.
- The May agreement between SMEDA and Alibaba sets a framework to expand digital trade and give Pakistani micro, small and medium enterprises access to Alibaba’s global e-commerce platform.
- Alibaba committed to run dedicated training sessions teaching online export practices, digital trade skills, and e-commerce best practices for Pakistani SMEs.
- Officials at the meeting included Federal Secretary Saif Anjum, SMEDA CEO Nadia J Seth, and Joint Secretary Freedoon Akram Sheik, showing formal government oversight of implementation plans.
- Coverage says an MoU has also been discussed with the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and that details on timelines, targets, funding, and measurable outcomes have not yet been released so progress and impact remain to be seen.