WASHINGTON: China’s richest man wants to help more New Zealand farmers and small businesses sell their products there. Jack Ma, who founded China’s biggest online retailer Alibaba, has signed a deal with the government to give more New Zealand goods access to key online sites in China. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister John Key at a China Entrepreneur Club leaders meeting in Beijing.
Mr Ma has a net worth of about $50 billion, amassed from his numerous online retailers, including Alibaba, Aliexpress, Alitrip and T-Mall. He said New Zealand’s wonderful small businesses had good products but they did not know how to sell into China.
Under the agreement, Alibaba would provide support for New Zealand companies to enter the Chinese consumer market through its various e-commerce channels.
Trade Minister Todd McClay said it would involve matching New Zealand products with Chinese businesses that already sold successfully on Alibaba. “Some of those direct-to-market opportunities will be increased,” Mr McClay said.
Mr Ma said he would be sending staff to New Zealand to check out products for his companies and would set up a business embassy. He said China had a lot to learn from New Zealand in terms of food safety, sustainability and environmental protection.
