LAHORE: Alibaba, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) trade, on Thursday hosted its first seller summit to highlight export opportunities available to local businesses in the e-commerce space.

Various experts in the export and e-commerce fields took part as speakers in the event, including Sheharyar Tahir, Head of External Relations of SMEDA, and Mian Rehman Aziz, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries Senior Vice President, who shed light on government support and infrastructure available to assist exporters in Lahore

‘Go Export with Alibaba.com’ brought together existing and potential exporters to offer tips and advice on how to start and grow an online export business. It is the first event of its type held by Alibaba in Lahore.

Commenting on the summit, Song Song, Business Head of Alibaba Pakistan, said that Pakistan was one of Alibaba’s most important supplier markets. “Lahore, in particular, shows a high potential of e-commerce growth, as it already contributed US $4.7 billion in export volume or 17 percent of the country’s total export volume in the fiscal year 2021-22,” she added.

According to him, as the global pandemic has sped up B2B (business-to-business) buyers’ adoption of online sourcing channels, we feel that now is the time for more high-quality suppliers here in Lahore to go online and be discovered by the 34 million-strong global online buyer community on Alibaba,” he added.

Sheharyar Tahir, Head of External Relations of SMEDA, said that Pakistan’s economy comprised of almost 5.2 million small and medium enterprises. “With an established e-commerce platform like Alibaba and an enabling environment and business development services provided by SMEDA, we encourage small and medium enterprises here to take action and grow beyond their home market,” he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022