Updates

ITC and Alibaba join hands for small businesses in e-commerce

16 December 2021
ITC News

Small businesses in Africa, Asia and Latin America will be able to accelerate their global marketing online thanks to a new initiative by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Alibaba.com.

ITC and Alibaba.com launched the "Global Digital Trade Accelerator for MSMEs in Developing Countries" on 6 November on the margins of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2021 in Shanghai, China. The programme will support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries with their knowledge of e-commerce practices, improve e-commerce marketing skills, explore business opportunities, and generate new exports.

"Through our project, ITC has seen first-hand how e-commerce can provide much-needed economic opportunities for vulnerable groups, especially women and young people. We are engaged with our partners to bring them the support they need to be successful online," emphasized Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, in her opening remarks.

Daniel Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba.com, said: "The partnership between ITC and Alibaba International is an innovative move against the backdrop of the huge impact of the Pandemic. "

This initiative will enable Alibaba to develop while making more efforts to practice corporate social responsibility, as Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, former Deputy Director-General of WTO, pointed out. He was pretty happy to see Alibaba cooperating with ITC in this area.

Mr. Zhang Kuo, General Manager of Alibaba.com, stressed: "While global trade is currently facing many uncertainties, the trend of digitalization is a certainty."

ITC and Alibaba.com will analyze the lessons learned and fully assess the experience of the first phase and improve the support to a larger group of MSMEs in the future. Both parties also plan to jointly develop an "E-commerce Action Guide for MSMEs in Developing Countries. Mr. Ashish Shah, Director of Division of Country Programmes ITC, told the China Global Television Network about the next step. 

About the project

The 'Trade Promotion between China and other Developing Countries along the Belt and Road Initiative' project is supported by the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM). It uses the China International Import Expo and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo to promote trade, investment and business partnerships between China and other developing countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.  

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, delivered the opening remarks.

Daniel Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group, addressed at the event.

The accelerator Launched by Mr. Yi Xiaozhun, Former Deputy Director General of World Trade Organization, Mr. Zhang Kuo, General Manager of Alibaba.com and Deputy Director General of DZSWS MOFCOM.