SMEDA, e-commerce giant explore collaboration

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) and Daraz Pakistan will explore new avenues of collaboration to help Pakistani small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) build digital capabilities, expand their access to e-commerce and unlock new opportunities for growth. The initiative aligns with Smeda's broader efforts under the Ministry of Industries' strategic direction to strengthen digital capabilities of SMEs, especially women entrepreneurship and inclusive SME development, in line with Pakistan's economic vision. The discussion took place during a meeting between Nadia Jahangir Seth, Chief Executive Officer Smeda, and Ben Yi, Managing Director Daraz Pakistan, where the two organisations explored potential areas of collaboration, including e-commerce education, capacity building and initiatives to support women-led businesses. A key development discussed was Smeda's upcoming e-commerce programme, which would equip SMEs with practical knowledge and capabilities to participate more effectively in the digital economy. They also explored opportunities for Daraz to contribute its e-commerce expertise to the development of a specialised curriculum that could help entrepreneurs navigate the online selling journey. The proposed curriculum could cover practical areas, including setting up and managing an online business, product listings and merchandising, digital marketing, customer engagement, payments and other essential aspects of running a successful e-commerce business. The collaboration will also explore dedicated opportunities for women entrepreneurs, with a focus on helping more women-led businesses develop digital skills, market access and confidence needed to establish and grow their presence online. Smeda CEO said: "Digital transformation presents a significant opportunity for Pakistan's SMEs to improve their competitiveness, reach new markets and build sustainable businesses. Smeda is working to strengthen the capabilities of entrepreneurs through practical and accessible programmes and e-commerce will be an important part of this journey." She said collaboration with industry leaders such as Daraz could help ensure that entrepreneurs receive relevant, market-oriented skills. "We are particularly focused on creating greater opportunities for women entrepreneurs through targeted capacity building, digital inclusion and market access," she added.