The second forum organized in Faisalabad, Pakistan in December 2019 demonstrated significant evolution through context-specific planning and forging partnerships with Pakistani universities. Extensive surveys conducted across Pakistan reflected the team's sincerity to deeply understand on-ground realities before formulating an agenda.

The team displayed great effort in embarking on an on-ground survey to engage local communities, especially in the remote Gilgit-Baltistan region. They travelled from Beijing to Islamabad, and then visited Gilgit where they interacted with diverse stakeholders including government officials, university students and villagers. The aim was to assess the feasibility of potentially replicating China's successful Taobao Villages model in Pakistan.

One of the key themes of the forum was the exploration of successful e-commerce models, particularly the Chinese online business model, Taobao. Participants discussed the success factors behind Taobao, including its business model, marketing strategies, and customer engagement practices. They also explored how elements of this model could be adapted and implemented in other countries.

The forum itself witnessed high-quality academic sessions. Experts from partnering universities presented research analyzing e-commerce in participating countries like Pakistan, Mongolia, Kenya and Egypt. The launch of the Sino-Pak CBEC Association marked a historic milestone, formalizing avenues for future collaboration. Interactions were also arranged between international participants and Pakistani university students to involve youth.

In the concluding days, the team met leaders in Islamabad to discuss potential areas for joint initiatives and research projects. This reflected their sincere efforts to translate discussions into actionable policies and programs.

Key Highlights:

  • Surveys across Pakistan including remote areas such as Gilgit
  • Launch of Sino-Pak CBEC Association
  • Interactions with students and policymakers across several Pakistani cities

Pictures of the Second Forum