Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik and Benazir Income Support Programme Chairwoman Marvi Memon held a meeting with Alibaba team on Tuesday at the BISP Secretariat to discuss the opportunities that e-commerce offers in bridging the poverty gap and the future cooperation for the welfare of BISP beneficiaries.

The meeting discussed solutions that can help BISP beneficiaries in benefiting and reaching out to international markets through Alibaba. The meeting was attended by Jason Jia Pakistan-UAE Country Director Alibaba, Martin Wang Executive Assistant to GM Alibaba, Dr Shahid Mahmud CEO Interactive Group and Shayan Mahmud CEO Eikon Seven.

Malik said that the promotion of e-commerce would result in enhancing trade volume as its platform to explore new markets and would help in its product diversification. We look forward towards this game changer as contributing to the national economy through trade facilitation. This would help us in achieving higher market access for Pakistani products in foreign markets with the aim of increasing our share of export in global trade.

Memon said that BISP caters to 5.4 million women across Pakistan. There is a strong need to find a solution that can incorporate BISP beneficiaries into e-commerce, thus enabling them to benefit from the opportunities and outreach that e-commerce offers.

She said that it is high time to reap the advantages of the MoU between Alibaba and Pakistan for the benefits of vulnerable women. BISP plans to link its beneficiaries with online selling giant Alibaba so that they are able to earn for themselves while staying at home.

Alibaba team gave a detailed presentation on their operations and company and briefed BISP on the specially designated Pakistan Pavilion on the Alibaba Website as a result of the MOU signed between Pakistan and Alibaba during the visit of the previous Prime Minister of Pakistan to China.

During the meeting, it was discussed that industries and products with international demand that could be projected on the Pakistan Pavilion may be identified.

Memon said that the identified industries under their CSR may hire BISP beneficiaries in their workforce, thus elevating them out of poverty.

Dr Shahid Mahmud, CEO Interactive Group, said that there is high demand for handmade products. Pakistan has a huge workforce that could be engaged in utilizing the platform of E-Commerce so that poverty gaps could be bridged.

It was decided that shawls made by BISP beneficiaries would be placed on the website of DIBS that is an e-commerce company that deals in luxury items. The company would promote the sale of these shawls under its CSR. It was also discussed to sign an MOU between Alibaba, BISP and AHAAN for the online sale of BISP beneficiary made products.

Published in Daily Times, August 23^rd 2017.