Leather, Leadership and Global Reach: Transforming Business Across Borders

In Pakistan’s thriving leather markets, Adnan Siddiqui, Director of Karachi-based FACON and founder of Trendy Jacket, had a vision: to showcase Pakistani craftsmanship globally through premium leather jackets and accessories.But vision alone wasn’t enough. Despite Pakistan’s leather goods exports reaching $98.697 million with 5.1% growth, Adnan faced the challenges that stifle countless Pakistani entrepreneurs: unreliable international payments, transaction delays, and constant non-payment risks.The broader context was equally daunting. Pakistan’s e-commerce sector hit $7.7 billion in 2024 with 17% annual growth forecasted, yet SMEs still wrestled with payment barriers, connectivity issues, and trust gaps. For Adnan, these weren’t abstract statistics; they were daily obstacles limiting his international potential.”I watched opportunity after opportunity slip away,” Adnan recalls. “Customers loved our products, but payment hassles made lasting relationships nearly impossible.”The breakthrough came when Adnan became an early adopter of Payoneer over a decade ago. This strategic partnership provided the complete cross-border payments ecosystem he needed: Global receiving accounts for seamless Amazon and marketplace payments Multi-currency management across 12 accounts without conversion delays Physical payment cards for instant fund access Real-time FX conversion for maintained cash flows”The beauty wasn’t just in the platform’s ease,” Adnan explains. “It was in how it freed me to focus on creating exceptional leather products.”The transformation was dramatic. Daily vendor and courier payments replaced monthly cycles, directly improving customer satisfaction and fulfillment speed. Most remarkably, Adnan’s business grew tenfold, expanding across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia.”When I started, cross-border growth was more of a dream,” Adnan reflects. “Now young entrepreneurs enter the market with confidence, knowing they can compete globally from day one.”His advice to emerging entrepreneurs: prioritize long-term value and consistent quality over short-term profits.As Pakistan’s e-commerce market heads toward PKR 500 billion by 2026 with 18-22% annual growth, Adnan’s journey from local leather business to global enterprise offers a powerful roadmap for entrepreneurs ready to transform international dreams into reality.