‘ALIBABA DISTRIBUTION HUB A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN MALAYSIAN ECONOMY’
It shows investors’ growing confidence in Malaysia, says Gerakan V-P
FERNANDO FONG KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
CHINESE e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Limited’s plan to set up a regional distribution hub in Malaysia is a reflection of growing foreign investor confidence in the country, says Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau yesterday.
He said Malaysia’s economy was becoming more robust and dynamic under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“E-commerce is an economic area with a fast pace of growth. More and more consumers are buying online. E-commerce will help make the market more competitive with better customer experience and accessibility of goods,” he told the Ne w Straits Times.
MCA central committee member Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker said it showed Malaysia was on track for economic growth with top companies choosing the country as their choice destination for longterm investments.
“What we need is more political stability for the nation to progress further. Najib has done a good job.”
Ti said Najib deserved credit as he had put Malaysia back on the investors’ map through consistency and perseverance.
Economist Professor Dr Barjoyai Bardai said Alibaba, which owns Chinese online shopping business Taobao, was growing tremendously worldwide.
He said Malaysian businesses and customers had already been involved with Alibaba’s marketing web services.
“The regional distribution centre will help spur the physical business activity related to it.
“The regional warehouse will service the Asean region and generate employment and business income that will spur economic development.”
Barjoyai said Malaysian businesses, including micro-businesses, could take the opportunity to create links with Alibaba to market their products.
He said the setting up of a Malaysian merchandise processing centre for packaging, leveraging Alibaba’s regional distribution centre, could help uplift the quality of Malaysian products, with better distribution and market coverage.