# SMEDA and Alibaba to train 10,000 Pakistani SMEs, put 2,000 on Alibaba.com with up to Rs 150,000 support each

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/business/smeda-and-alibaba-to-train-10000-pakistani-smes-put-2000-on-alibabacom-with-up)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 31 Oct 2026
Updated: 31 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 31 Oct 2026

> Sports goods, textiles, farm machinery and auto parts makers get priority. Registration is on SMEDA's portal, and selected firms are reimbursed for eligible costs.

**SMEDA and Alibaba.com will train 10,000 Pakistani small businesses to export and put up to 2,000 of them on Alibaba's international B2B marketplace**, with SMEDA paying back up to **Rs 150,000 per business** for the costs, under a strategic cooperation agreement reported by [Business Recorder](https://www.brecorder.com/news/40446790/smeda-alibaba-to-train-10000-smes-for-global-exports) on Saturday. Registration is through SMEDA's portal at **smerp.smeda.org**.

The deal turns into a working programme the memorandum of understanding signed in May 2026, during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China.

## What a business gets

| Support | From |
|---|---|
| Export and digital trade training (10,000 SMEs) | SMEDA and Alibaba.com |
| Onboarding to Alibaba.com's global B2B platform (up to 2,000 SMEs) | Alibaba.com |
| Reimbursement of costs, up to Rs 150,000 per business | SMEDA |
| Preferential pricing on Alibaba.com membership, and technical help | Alibaba.com |

The money is described as **reimbursement-based**: a selected business is paid back for eligible costs up to the limit, rather than given a grant in advance. SMEDA has not yet published the list of eligible costs.

## Who it is aimed at

Four sectors get priority:

- **Sports goods and sportswear**
- **Textiles**
- **Agricultural machinery**
- **Auto parts**

Alibaba.com launched DigiSME Pakistan at its AI Export x New Supply Growth Summit 2026 in Faisalabad, where participants were shown AI-enabled tools for digital trade. SMEDA chief executive Nadia Jahangir Seth said the authority's job is to help small firms reach global markets.

## How to apply

1. **Register** on SMEDA's portal, smerp.smeda.org, with your business details. SMEDA says selection and onboarding will be "transparent"; the eligibility rules and closing date had not been published at the time of writing.
2. **Get your paperwork in order.** An exporter needs NTN registration with the FBR, and most B2B buyers will ask for a company profile, product photos, prices in dollars and a minimum order quantity.
3. **Work out your costs** before you list. Our [sales tax calculator](/tools/tax/sales-tax-calculator) and [income tax calculator](/tools/tax/income-tax-calculator) help a small firm see what it keeps from an export order, and the [currency converter](/tools/finance/currency-converter) turns dollar quotes into rupees at today's rate.

We will add the eligibility criteria and deadline here when SMEDA publishes them.

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I register for the SMEDA Alibaba programme?**

Register through SMEDA's online portal at smerp.smeda.org. Selected businesses can be onboarded to Alibaba.com and claim back costs of up to Rs 150,000 from SMEDA.

## Sources

- SMEDA, Alibaba to train 10,000 SMEs for global exports (Business Recorder): https://www.brecorder.com/news/40446790/smeda-alibaba-to-train-10000-smes-for-global-exports

How to cite: "SMEDA and Alibaba to train 10,000 Pakistani SMEs, put 2,000 on Alibaba.com with up to Rs 150,000 support each", Searchable, 31 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/business/smeda-and-alibaba-to-train-10000-pakistani-smes-put-2000-on-alibabacom-with-up