21.07.2026

From July 5 to 15, a GPI Group employee took part in the international educational program “Smart Hangzhou · Connecting the Future — 2026 Central Asia Youth Digital E-commerce Leadership Program” in Hangzhou. Zhejiang Yuying College of Vocational Technology and TechnoWomen Central Asia brought together 20 young professionals aged 18 to 35 from Central Asian countries. Hangzhou was an integral part of the training: it is where China’s first comprehensive pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce was established, and over time the industry has come to occupy a prominent place in the city’s economy. Classes were held in live-streaming studios, at a trade fair, and in a warehouse, where participants could see the product’s entire journey to the customer.

Live-stream commerce in China has already evolved into an industry in its own right. Each broadcast is prepared by a team that studies the audience and the product, develops a script, equips the studio, and designs the digital storefront. Heijiao Technology and Black Coral Technology adapt broadcasts for foreign audiences, while Be Friends Holding Limited and Yaowang Technology handle sales at scale. A visit to HighStoreTech showed the next part of the system: after the broadcast come warehouse logistics, customs clearance, and financing.

This scale is supported by government policy and technological infrastructure. The “AI+” strategy sets targets for 2027, 2030, and 2035, and investment in the “Digital Silk Road” totals $500 billion. At H3C Group and companies from the “Six Dragons” ecosystem, participants saw the results of this policy in action: artificial intelligence cuts animation production from three to six months down to five to seven days, and digital hosts can work around the clock and reduce costs by up to ten times.

The next stage in the development of this model involves Chinese companies entering foreign markets, including Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The model presented by entrepreneur Pu Feng combines exhibitions, warehousing, and legal and tax support, and its expansion in the region requires local partners. This increases demand for Kazakhstani expertise in regulation, certification, and business support.