Alibaba.com has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ignite, Pakistan’s National Technology Fund under the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication, to expand digital trade and help the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises and startups reach global markets. The agreement commits both sides to joint promotional activities, targeted e-commerce training and the deployment of AI-driven tools to boost export competitiveness and digital trade participation.
The MoU was signed in Beijing during the 2nd Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference by Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan’s Minister of IT & Telecom, and Roger Luo, Head of South & Southeast Asia at Alibaba.com, in the presence of senior officials from both sides. The partnership aims to align Pakistan’s institutions with international e-commerce practices and equip entrepreneurs with the tools and training needed to access overseas buyers.
Pakistan’s IT minister emphasized the country’s entrepreneurial potential and framed the partnership as a step toward showcasing Pakistani products globally, fostering innovation and supporting export growth. Alibaba.com highlighted its role in opening new channels for Pakistani businesses by combining platform capabilities, AI tools and targeted training with government support to help SMEs scale and improve export competitiveness.
Under the agreement, Alibaba.com will organize online and offline promotional activities, including Pakistan trade shows and a national online pavilion, deliver targeted B2B e-commerce training, and provide AI-powered tools to selected exporters. Ignite will support implementation by identifying potential exporters, coordinating seminars in key cities, and promoting Alibaba.com-led initiatives across Pakistan.
Following the signing, a high-level Pakistani delegation visited the Alibaba Campus in Beijing. The delegation, hosted by Wee Choo Hua, Executive Vice President at Daraz and Lazada, and Berry Ma, Head of Pakistan Business at Alibaba.com, included Minister Khawaja and Zarrar Hasham Khan, Secretary of IT & Telecom. Discussions focused on expanding Pakistan’s role in global supply chains, enhancing e-commerce training for SMEs, and exploring further cooperation on AI and digital trade facilitation.
Alibaba.com has already rolled out services and tools for Pakistani sellers, reporting strong adoption: its Trade Assurance service reached an 85 percent activation rate within months of launch, and the platform’s AI-powered Smart Assistant is being used by 80 percent of Pakistani sellers. In the most recent quarter, Pakistan saw a 60 percent year-on-year increase in new suppliers on Alibaba.com, led by apparel, sports and entertainment, and surgical instruments, signaling growing engagement with global buyers.
