Amazon operation to unleash new vistas for exports: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Pak-US Business Council Sunday hailing the epoch making decision of US e-commerce giant “Amazon” to add Pakistan to its seller list said it will unleash new vistas for young entrepreneurs to join the global export markets.

Talking to Jamil Ahmad Jamil Deputy Managing Director Punjab Small Industries Corporation who called on him here today, founder chairman Pak US Business Council and President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iftikhar Ali Malik said its major breakthrough for the country’s growing e-commerce industry as well as companies and professionals working in the digital space.

He said the new development will hopefully put Pakistan on the global e-commerce map, opening up a new era of business boom by connecting across the world.

He said it will now provide a new impetus and venue to Pak individual sellers to ship their products in small parcels to consumers outside Pakistan.

Iftikhar Ali Malik said it will afford them an excellent opportunity to work on and develop their own brands for better prices.

He said it’s heartening to note that they will not have to worry about their payments as Amazon will directly transfer the money into their local accounts. Its good omen that now small Pakistan sellers especially women and SME entrepreneurs who have goods and products needed by the consumers outside Pakistan but can’t afford to have a big export set-up. For instance he said they have a large Pakistani Diaspora scattered across the countries, especially in the Gulf to cater their needs.

He said it will enable a new breed of young entrepreneurs and SMEs including women to fully exploit foreign markets.

He said this fate turning decision will drastically change the game and result in a new sphere of economic growth as more sellers to visit this platform than ever before, he added.

Iftikhar Ali Malik urged young entrepreneurs derive maximum benefits once Amazon opens its seller registration for Pakistan. He stressed the need for focusing to fully ensure the international quality of products before export.

He said Amazon like other international companies and brands is a highly consumer-centric market place where consumer’s reviews are taken very seriously. Therefore, Pakistan entrepreneurs will have to be very careful if they desire to benefit from this opportunity. Jamil Ahmad Jamil emphasized that trend of e-commerce had accelerated in recent years with the development and easy accessibility of internet. He said due to Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of e-commerce had increased manifolds making it an extremely vital sector of economy. He said Pakistan e-commerce market itself has grown dramatically over the last one year and is estimated to have expended by 35 percent in his quarter of the current fiscal to Rs 96 billion from Rs 71 billion a year ago.

He said we are planning to involve our SMEs to join this gateway with the best ever quality products of international standards. He said Pakistan was the only South Asian state, which was not on the list of the 120 countries on the Amazon platform in spite of being the second largest economy in the region.