Alibaba creates chances for New Zealand exporters

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New Zealand's Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges welcomed the opening of a new regional Chinese e-commerce base on Friday as an opportunity for exporters.

Bridges said he would attend the opening of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group's Australia and New Zealand headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday.

"Alibaba Group is the world's largest online and mobile marketplace and presents an enormous opportunity for New Zealand exporters to sell their products into the huge China market," Bridges said in a statement.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said about $2 billion worth of goods was sold on the e-commerce giant's websites within the first hour and 12 seconds of its annual shopping festival on early November 11, 2014. / CFP Photo

"China is our second-biggest trading partner after Australia, and we have all witnessed the rise of e-commerce platforms globally, but few countries have embraced e-commerce with the gusto shown by Chinese consumers," said Bridges.

"In the last year, China's e-commerce retail sales have grown 37 percent versus 11.3 percent in standard retail; mobile commerce sales have grown 123 percent; and 50 percent of the population are yet to access the internet," he said.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's first full quarterly report card to Wall Street investors on November 4, 2014 / CFP Photo

"With a population size of 1.4 billion and growing recognition and demand for Western brands, it is clear that e-commerce presents significant opportunities for our exporters. Alibaba is a key gateway to taking advantage of this."

The opening of the headquarters followed last year's memorandum of understanding signed between the government's New Zealand Trade and Enterprise agency and Alibaba Group, which formalized discussions for strengthening trade between China and New Zealand.

(Source: China Daily)