Najib’s determination, leadership, vision amazes Alibaba founder

The founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, says he is amazed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s leadership, vision and determination, especially in realising the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ).

He said the Malaysian government had put in a lot of effort to create a businessfriendly environment by removing all barriers within a short time to benefit the e-commerce sector.

“I just want to say thank you and congratulations to the prime minister, all ministers and all the people for working so hard to make this magical thing happen.

“I want to say I am really astonishingly surprised by Malaysia’s vision and speed. Almost a year ago today, the prime minister and I met in China. Within five minutes we agreed on the DFTZ and today it has happened in Malaysia,” he said after the launch of the first phase of the DFTZ here today.

Ma said many countries were only talking about how to do something for small businesses, but Malaysia and its government had actually made it happen.

Earlier, Najib and Ma brought to life Malaysia’s DFTZ with 1,972 exportready small- and medium-sized enterprises coming on board.

Malaysia’s DFTZ, the first outside of China, was launched on March 22 by Najib, together with Ma.

Among other things, the trade zone features physical and virtual zones to make it easier for SMEs to capitalise on the convergence of the exponential growth of the Internet economy and cross-border e-commerce activities.

I want to say I am really astonishingly surprised by Malaysia’s vision and speed.

JACK MA