DHgate Proposes Incubation Centers For Globally-Trading SMBs

B2B eCommerce platform DHgate is reportedly considering the creation of several incubation centers across Asia to promote the expansion of small business trade.

A press release Thursday (July 26) said DHgate proposed the development of such incubation centers in an effort to upgrade the company’s existing Cross-Border eCommerce Training (CBET) Centers, which launched in 2014 with support from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Described as an update to the CBET model, the incubation centers would support small businesses by training entrepreneurs on how to operate an online business, design lessons around mock startups, help business owners access trade finance and hold events to match exporters, importers and service providers.

DHgate announced the concept after Founder and CEO Diane Wang proposed the idea at the third APEC Business Advisory Council held earlier this week. There, the company advocated for a more inclusive global trading ecosystem.

“Now, as globalization appears increasingly in crisis, it is more important than ever to find ways for its benefits to be shared more widely, beyond a narrow elite of multinational companies,” DHgate said in its press release. “The backlash threatens some domestic political systems, not to mention the entire architecture of global trade itself.”

The company did not offer details on how far along its efforts are to develop the incubation centers, or when the centers may officially launch.

Last year, DHgate announced enhancements to its mobile app that enable small businesses to procure online. The solution added mobile-exclusive discounts, shipping notifications, mobile chat with suppliers and a streamlined procurement button for faster purchasing.

Research published in 2016 from HSBC found that small businesses are struggling to expand their B2B sales efforts internationally, citing a lack of international business experience as a key hurdle, while local regulations were also cited as a top challenge.