Celina Ali
Islamabad: A group of 50 promising Pakistani entrepreneurs this week successfully completed a US-backed business accelerator programme designed to strengthen their digital trade expertise and enhance their ability to compete in the rapidly expanding global e-commerce landscape.
The five-day accelerator, titled “E-Commerce and Digital Trade: Building the US-Pakistan Economic Partnership,” was organised by the US Mission Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan-US Alumni Network and Tech Valley Pakistan?. The programme was conducted from June 8 to June 12 at the headquarters of the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan in Islamabad.
Selected through a rigorous nationwide, multi-stage evaluation process, the participants represented a diverse range of sectors, including agriculture, artisan crafts, fashion, healthcare, technology, and software development. The accelerator was specifically designed to provide entrepreneurs with the practical knowledge, digital tools, and international market insights necessary to expand their businesses beyond domestic borders and establish a stronger presence in global digital commerce.
Addressing the graduation ceremony, Andrew Halus reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic opportunity in Pakistan. He emphasized the significance of the US-Pakistan trade relationship, noting that the United States remains Pakistan’s largest export destination and encouraging participants to capitalize on the skills they had acquired to access international markets more effectively.
Halus also underscored the value of the Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce Professional Certificate, awarded to all participants upon completion of the programme. He said the certification would strengthen their professional credentials, improve business credibility, and enhance their competitiveness in the increasingly digital global economy.
Throughout the intensive training programme, entrepreneurs received hands-on instruction in key areas critical to international e-commerce success. These included developing and managing online stores, understanding cross-border digital trade regulations, navigating global logistics and supply chain networks, and implementing modern digital marketing strategies to reach customers across international markets.
As a supporting partner, Google for Education? contributed digital learning resources, technological tools, and professional certification opportunities, ensuring participants gained industry-relevant skills aligned with current global standards. Organisers said the initiative was developed in response to the growing importance of digital commerce and the increasing opportunities available to Pakistani businesses in international online marketplaces.
By the conclusion of the accelerator, each entrepreneur had successfully built a functional online store, acquired practical knowledge of export and digital trade requirements, established logistics connections, and learned to leverage artificial intelligence-driven marketing tools to improve customer engagement and business growth. Participants also received customized export roadmaps tailored to their products, industries, and business models, providing them with actionable strategies for entering and succeeding in global markets.
The programme showcased the breadth and diversity of Pakistan’s entrepreneurial landscape. Participating businesses ranged from producers of handcrafted and artisanal products to exporters of agricultural goods such as dried mangoes and organic oils. Fashion and lifestyle enterprises offering traditional shawls, jewellery, and apparel also formed a significant part of the cohort, reflecting the country’s rich export potential across multiple sectors.
Officials noted that the accelerator is part of broader efforts aimed at deepening economic cooperation between Pakistan and the United States through innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and digital trade. By improving export readiness and facilitating access to global e-commerce platforms, the initiative seeks to empower Pakistani entrepreneurs to reach new markets, increase export volumes, and contribute more effectively to national economic growth.
Tech Valley Pakistan?, a recognized partner of Google for Education and Canva for Education, played a key role in delivering the programme by providing technology solutions, professional training, and consultancy services. The organization operates across Pakistan, Canada, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, and reports having impacted more than 500,000 individuals through its technology, education, and digital empowerment initiatives.
Organisers expressed optimism that the skills, certifications, and international market exposure gained through the accelerator would enable participants to expand their global footprint, boost exports, create new business opportunities, and play an increasingly important role in Pakistan’s evolving digital economy.
