Alibaba.com Launches Verified Supplier Membership in Pakistan, Highlights Value of B2B E-Commerce in Conjunction with World MSME Day
In conjunction with World MSME Day, Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, has introduced Verified Supplier membership in Pakistan to help eligible Pakistani exporters gain the trust of global gain buyers when conducting online trading. The move is Alibaba.com’s latest effort to support small businesses in Pakistan, which account for nearly 90% of the country’s exclusive private businesses.
Verified Supplier, offered in partnership with SGS in Pakistan, is the highest level of membership on Alibaba.com that provides on-site verification services to suppliers from leading independent professional certification bodies. It enables buyers to easily identify a network of carefully vetted suppliers who have undergone an extensive verification process, which includes, but is not limited to, background checks, on-site inspections, as well as assessments of management quality and production and service capabilities. The resulting comprehensive assessment report will be accessible to all buyers through the Alibaba.com stores of the participating suppliers to demonstrate their reliability and capabilities.
Verified suppliers on Alibaba.com are identified by the “verified supplier” tag that is visible to buyers in the platform’s search results, product detail pages, and suppliers’ company profiles. In addition, verified suppliers have access to an exclusive online pavilion on Alibaba.com where they can showcase their products and enjoy greater visibility with potential buyers. The features are beneficial for eligible Pakistani companies looking to enter the global market by helping them establish themselves as credible companies and differentiate themselves from the competition.
In celebration of World SME Day, Alibaba.com also co-hosted a webinar with the International Trade Center (ITC), providing valuable insights into the latest digital trends and tools available to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) worldwide ). During the webinar, titled “The Future of B2B E-commerce,” ITC emphasized that small businesses can reap significant benefits from e-commerce if they transform their organizational structure, invest in digital skills and build a strong online presence. It also advised companies to prioritize B2B e-commerce and select appropriate sales channels to successfully engage in international e-commerce.
Alibaba.com agreed on the value of digital transformation for MSMEs during the webinar, highlighting the benefits of reducing business risk, increasing customer reach, improving productivity and cost management, and increasing company profits. Alibaba.com also highlighted the growing popularity of B2B live streaming as a viable digital marketing tool for MSMEs, which is gaining popularity on its platform and will have accumulated more than 13 million viewers by 2022, a year-over-year increase of 198%.
“We are proud to celebrate World MSME Day 2023 and the important role of MSMEs in the global economy with ITC. Alibaba.com is committed to helping MSMEs succeed by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in the digital age. We believe that with our support, MSMEs can break down barriers and build bridges to a more prosperous future.” Andrew Zheng, Head of Global Supplier Business at Alibaba.com.
“MSMEs are the backbone of most global economies, and Alibaba.com’s efforts to help them connect and trade globally are significant. The digitization of commerce is game-changing and can help MSMEs tap into new markets and grow their business. Alibaba.com is a strong partner in this journey,” said Annabel Sykes, e-commerce and SME digital transformation consultant at the International Trade Center (ITC).
During fiscal year 2023, Alibaba.com brought together more than 40 million MSMEs worldwide through its B2B e-commerce platform. It supports its vast network of buyers and sellers with digital tools and training specifically designed for B2B commerce, such as communication and engagement tools, translation assistance, AI-powered buyer-supplier alignment, platform analytics, and digital commerce training. This has enabled a substantial portion of these MSMEs to evolve into micro-global enterprises.
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