Page 54 - Cross-Border Magazine Nr.3

~ Alibaba ~

TAX LAW

Global branding move: International Olympic Com- Trust Move: ‘Alibaba Big Data Anti-Counterfeiting
mittee Alliance’
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, IOC In January, Alibaba announced a new alliance to combat the MEN MEN
President Thomas Bach, Alibaba Group Founder and Execu- sale of counterfeit goods. Over 20 member companies, includ-
tive Chairman, Jack Ma, and Alibaba CEO, Daniel Zhang, ing Huawei, Swarovski, Louis Vuitton, Samsung and Mars, will
announced in January 2017 a commitment of Alibaba to the leverage big data and the latest anti-counterfeiting technology,
Olympic Games until 2028. Alibaba became a member of TOP in order to pursue their common goal. In spring 2016, Alibaba
(The Olympic Partner) global sponsorship programme and was suspended from the International Anti-Counterfeiting Ta x & L e ga L
pledged to deliver cloud-computing services, an e-commerce Coalition (IACC) only one month after joining. Regaining trust
platform for licensed merchandise and a media channel for the of international brands is a key goal for Alibaba: “The collabora- for e-commerce
Chinese audience. Thomas Bach called the agreement ‘ground- tion among stakeholders will give brands the opportunity to
Taxmen is The global company
breaking’, hoping to further evolve the ‘digital opportunities of review and engage Alibaba about its platform governance rules,”
the Olympic movement’. Daniel Zhang expressed his pride, reads an official statement released on the company’s corporate
spe cialising in Ta x
adding that the agreement brings Alibaba closer to its goal of blog, Alizila.
serving 2 billion global customers.
Brand loyalty move: Mattel & Mars and legal services
Multichannel move: Bailian Group Did you know that Chinese parents think differently about for The e-commerce secTor
Bailian Group is a state-owned, leading retail company in China, playing than American and European parents do? Well, US toy-
whichoperates over 6000 physical outlets including department giant Mattel obviously did not either, but seems eager to tailor
stores, shopping malls, convenience stores and supermarkets. In its product offers to their target group and make efforts to re-
late February 2017, Alibaba and Bailian announced a strategic educate parents in China. In February 2017, Alibaba and Mattel
partnership in order to ‘explore new forms of retail systems announced a partnership in order to leverage Mattel’s iconic
across each other’s ecosystem’. Both companies agreed to lever- brands and expertise combined with Alibaba’s data and insights,
age big data in order to enhance customer experience across into the Chinese consumer base. According to the press release,
multiple channels. Daniel Zhang commented: “Our partnership “the partnership aims to re-shape the way parents in China
with Bailian is an important milestone in the evolution of Chi- think about play.” Mattel’s CEO Margo Georgiadis said: “The
nese retail, where the distinction between physical and virtual multi-billion-dollar toy category in China is highly fragmented,
commerce is becoming obsolete.” with tremendous potential for growth. Working with Alibaba,
we see a terrific opportunity to develop and lead the category.” A
Loyalty across borders: Austrade similar alliance popped up in June 2016 with the food company,
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Aus- Mars, leveraging Alibaba’s ecosystem to allow Mars to estab-
trade, and Alibaba signed an agreement in September 2016 lish an integrated online and offline business model to serve
to strengthen trade opportunities by expanding the variety its consumers more effectively in China. Mars sells its brands cusToms
of Australian products sold to some of Alibaba’s hundreds of Dove, Snickers, M&M’s, Extra, Pedigree and Royal Canin via
AdvicE
millions of Chinese consumers through Alibaba’s e-commerce Alibaba’s platforms Tmall.com and Rural Taobao. In addition,
platforms. Expanding the existing alliance between both parties, both companies agreed to collaborate on an e-commerce food
the new agreement is, according to Australian Prime Minister safety program in cooperation with Mars’ Global Food Safety
Malcolm Turnbull, set to ‘enable the smallest businesses, the Center (GFSC).
mom-and-dad businesses, in the regional part of Australia to
have access to the biggest part of the world. This is something What’s next?
that hitherto only a very large company with enormous resources The above mentioned only being a selection of alliances and
and representation would be able to do. It’s a liberating force for partnerships recently pursued by the Chinese retail giant, Aliba-
packaging
small business.’ ba’s aim to build a strong network around the globe seems clear. vAT alcohol
Brands and organisations also seem eager to jump on the train: TAriffS dUTiES
Cross-Border logistics move: WCA Who wouldn’t want a gateway to a multi-billion-dollar market compliance
In January 2017, Alibaba announced a strategic partnership with of new customers? Alibaba is smartly using its technological
the world’s largest network of independent freight forwarders advancement, market reach and financial power to build trust
WCA, embracing 6,351 member offices in 190 countries. WCA on a global scale. Winston Churchill once said: ‘There is only
will give its professional support in providing international logis- one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting
tics providers for logistics services for the customers of Alibaba. without them’. A strong network of global brands, organisations,
com. “Approved providers will have full access to compete for platforms and logistic providers might just be the key to success
logistics orders generated on the Alibaba.com platform,” reads in this very dynamic, digital and international world that is retail WebsiTe
the official statement. Having commenced in January 2017, today. We are curious what the next move will be. ••
LEgALS
the collaboration will facilitate shipments from Alibaba.com’s
merchants to the US, India and the UK.

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