Australia Post has partnered with B2B online marketplace 1688.com, a subsidiary of e-commerce operator Alibaba, to help local businesses sell their goods in China at wholesale prices.
The postal operator’s ‘Australian pavilion’ for 1688.com will give Australian businesses access to more than 100 million registered Chinese users. Australia Post will initially help to sell wine through 1688.com because of the strong demand for Australian wine exports into China. This will later be expanded to include other products in 2016.
Ahmed Fahour, managing director and CEO for Australia Post, said, “Australia Post is committed to supporting local businesses by breaking down barriers to selling overseas and delivering e-commerce solutions that make it easier to do business across the country and overseas.
“International expansion can be a daunting prospect for many Australian companies but Alibaba’s B2B platform, 1688.com, offers the perfect solution for small and medium businesses to drive more sales in China.
“Our world-first partnership with 1688.com is a one-stop e-commerce, logistics and delivery solution that streamlines labeling, packaging, pallet consolidation, sea and air transport, customs clearance, warehousing and distribution.
“Alongside our new storefront on Alibaba’s 1688.com, we already have an existing storefront on Alibaba’s Tmall Global business-to-consumer (B2C) marketplace. This means customers who want to sell their products into China can partner with us to sell directly to consumers in China via Tmall, as well as wholesale to Chinese businesses via 1688.com.”
Michael Mang, head of international marketing and business development for Asia-Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, of Alibaba.com and 1688.com, said, “Our ongoing partnership with Australia Post is a crucial part of our cross-border trade strategy. We are delighted that our agreement enables Australian exporters a direct sales channel to Chinese retailers with even greater wholesale opportunities.”
December 9, 2015