Alibaba's expansion plans for NZ tourism and trade

Friday, 27 April 2018

Alibaba chief executive Daniel Zhang wants its Alipay mobile phone payment system in all New Zealand stores.

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is in talks with the Government to expand its presence in New Zealand, its chief executive says.

Daniel Zhang confirmed on Friday the $640 billion company had had 'a lot of discussions' with officials in the past six months.

Zhang was in New Zealand for the first time this week since taking over from Alibaba founder Jack Ma at the helm in 2015.

He wants Alibaba subsidiary Alipay, a mobile phone payment system, to be available at all New Zealand stores.

Alibaba founder Jack Ma visited New Zealand in February.

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Alipay was adopted by Auckland International Airport and Christchurch Airport merchants last year to entice Chinese tourists.

'The first thing we want to do is see more terminals [that] accept Alipay in New Zealand.'

That would drive more Chinese tourists here, benefiting New Zealand's economy, he said.

More than 500 New Zealand food, beverage and beauty brands sold their products on Alibaba's Tmall Global online market.

The 'door was open' for more New Zealand businesses to sell on Tmall Global, he said.

In November, Chinese president Xi Jinping announced China would import $33 trillion of imported goods in the next 15 years.

Zhang said that sent 'the strongest message to the world'.

Since then, China has warned the United States it would increase tariffs on some imported goods if the US raised tarrif on Chinese goods.

Zhang said China was pro-import. New Zealand has a free trade agreement with China.

Alibaba's plans mostly benefited Chinese consumers. Every decision was made with them top of mind, Zhang said.

But, New Zealand businesses were included in Alibaba's global strategy.

It could create more jobs in New Zealand if businesses grew sales using Tmall Global, he said.

'It is all about an ecosystem around this digital platform. What we want to do is help New Zealand business get access to the Chinese people, Chinese families, in a more direct way. That's it.'

Zhang spent one week a month in markets outside China to understand how people lived in other countries, he said.

He spent three days in New Zealand this week. The air was fresh and the food was good, he said.

On Friday, he announced a technology trial with Fonterra and New Zealand Post in Auckland.