SMEDA, Daraz Pak explore e-commerce programme for SMEs

According to Business Recorder, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) and Daraz Pakistan plan to explore a joint effort aimed at helping small businesses sharpen their digital skills and sell online. The discussions, reported from Lahore, centred on e-commerce education, capacity building and support for women-led firms.

A meeting between SMEDA chief executive Nadia Jahangir Seth and Daraz Pakistan managing director Ben Yi put the spotlight on SMEDA's upcoming e-commerce programme, designed to give entrepreneurs practical knowledge for taking part in the digital economy. The two sides also looked at how Daraz's online retail know-how could shape a specialised course covering store setup, product listings, digital marketing, customer engagement, payments and order fulfilment.

Seth said digital transformation gives Pakistan's SMEs a chance to become more competitive and reach new markets, adding that SMEDA wants to build entrepreneurs' abilities through practical, accessible programmes. Yi said the country's SME sector could gain much from e-commerce growth, but going online alone is not enough, since entrepreneurs also need knowledge, tools and support. Both organisations will keep working on curriculum development, capacity building and steps to widen women's involvement in digital commerce.