The India government has teamed up with Alibaba.com to help Indian startups and small businesses reach buyers overseas. The program is part of India’s Startup India initiative and focuses on export growth, offering technical support and commissions to startups that assist manufacturers and traders in selling products internationally.
This partnership comes years after India banned many Chinese-linked consumer apps in 2020, including TikTok, PUBG Mobile, and AliExpress, following border tensions. The new collaboration is limited to Alibaba’s export-focused B2B platform rather than signaling a broader reopening of Chinese apps in India.
Small businesses are central to India’s export strategy. Micro, small, and medium enterprises account for nearly half of exports and roughly 31% of GDP. By connecting these firms to global B2B platforms, the government aims to expand digital access to overseas markets.
Alibaba.com said its platform reaches over 50 million buyers in more than 200 countries. Rocky Lu, head of India business at Alibaba.com, said the company wants to help “Made in India” products reach international markets using digital infrastructure. Lu also noted Alibaba has engaged with various government and semi-government bodies in India to train MSMEs and support exports.
Experts say the partnership shows India’s selective approach toward China: keeping restrictions on consumer apps while allowing economic cooperation where it benefits Indian businesses. Kazim Rizvi, founder of The Dialogue, emphasized that clear regulations will help startups participate confidently. George Chen, partner at The Asia Group, added that India sees value in Alibaba’s role in supporting B2B exports, particularly to markets like Africa.
The initiative mirrors China’s strategy of separating consumer app restrictions from export-focused business tools. Alibaba.com has also recently launched its Trade Assurance program in India to help small and medium exporters manage risks in cross-border transactions.
The move comes as India and China show early signs of engagement in multilateral tech forums, such as the upcoming India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, though Indian consumer app bans remain unchanged.
