The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, in collaboration with global e-commerce giant Alibaba, hosted a one-day workshop at Barcelos Nasandhura in Male' for local businesses seeking to expand their product portfolio to international markets.
The workshop, attended by over 700 participants - physical and online from across the Maldives, aimed to equip local businesses with the skills to leverage online platforms and expand into international markets, according to the Ministry.
Top executives from the Alibaba platform led sessions, focusing on practical aspects such as opening seller accounts, advertising and selling products, and utilising the platform's artificial intelligence tools to identify market trends.
Participants also gained insights into securing financing for goods and services sold online and exploring opportunities for shipping and logistics.
This initiative aligns with the government's strategic goal of boosting the creative industry's contribution to 15 percent of the country’s GDP, with a strong emphasis on exporting Maldivian products globally.
Alibaba, with its presence in over 200 countries and millions of active sellers, offers a significant avenue for local businesses to reach a wider international audience. The platform's capabilities include showcasing more than 400,000 products daily and facilitating sales of over 5,900 product categories, providing a substantial opportunity for business expansion.
The workshop demonstrates a key step towards achieving President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's pledge to facilitate access for Maldivian enterprises to major international e-commerce platforms and diversify the nation's economy through digital transformation. This initiative is part of a broader governmental effort to build formal ties with globally recognised e-commerce platforms.