India’s Collaboration with Alibaba.com to Boost Export-Focused Program
The Indian government has recently announced a partnership with China’s Alibaba.com to launch an export-focused program aimed at assisting startups and small businesses in reaching overseas buyers. This move signifies New Delhi’s strategic engagement with Chinese-linked tech platforms, following the imposition of bans on several consumer apps and games in the past years.
This week, the Startup India initiative, led by the Indian government, revealed its collaboration with Alibaba.com to identify and support Indian startups that can facilitate the onboarding and scaling of Indian exporters on the global B2B platform of the Alibaba group. The program offers commissions and technical support to these startups, aiming to enable small manufacturers and traders to expand their reach in international markets.
Despite the strained relations between India and China in recent years, with India imposing bans on various Chinese-linked apps in 2020, including popular platforms like TikTok and PUBG Mobile, the partnership with Alibaba.com’s export-focused platform signifies a measured form of engagement rather than a broad policy reset.
India’s export aspirations are closely linked to its small businesses and the digital platforms they utilize to access overseas markets. Micro, small, and medium enterprises contribute significantly to the country’s exports and GDP, highlighting the importance of enhancing digital market access for smaller firms through global B2B channels such as Alibaba.com.
Alibaba.com’s B2B platform boasts a vast network of over 50 million active buyers across more than 200 countries and regions, emphasizing the potential for Indian exporters to tap into a global audience through digital transformation.
Rocky Lu, head of India business at Alibaba.com, emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering MSMEs to expand their businesses globally. Lu highlighted Alibaba.com’s longstanding presence in India and its dedication to facilitating the international reach of ‘Made in India’ products.
While the Startup India initiative marks a significant milestone in Alibaba.com’s collaboration with the Indian government, the company has been actively engaging with various governmental bodies to support the Indian export ecosystem through digital training programs and partnerships with export promotion councils.
The differentiated approach taken by India towards China underscores the importance of maintaining restrictions in strategic sectors while fostering economic engagement where mutual benefits can be realized. Regulatory clarity will be crucial in ensuring that startups feel confident in participating in such initiatives, according to Kazim Rizvi, founding director of The Dialogue, a public policy think tank based in New Delhi.
With India drawing lessons from China’s strategy towards digital platforms, the collaboration with Alibaba.com signifies a step towards leveraging the platform’s global reach to diversify Indian exporters’ sales across different markets, including Africa.
Alibaba.com’s recent initiatives in India, such as the Trade Assurance program launched in 2025 to assist small and medium-sized exporters in managing cross-border transaction risks, align with the objective of supporting Indian businesses in international trade.
As India and China exhibit signs of improved engagement in multilateral technology forums, the collaboration between the two countries in the tech sector is expected to foster greater cooperation. However, Indian officials have not indicated any relaxation of restrictions on Chinese consumer technology platforms.
While the Indian commerce ministry did not provide a comment on the recent developments, the partnership between India and Alibaba.com signifies a strategic effort to bolster India’s export capabilities and enhance the global outreach of Indian businesses.
