Event featuring Jack
Ma in Toronto on September 25th draws five
times the anticipated audience
TORONTO and HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 5,
2017 /CNW/ - Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA) today
announced that the inaugural Gateway '17 Canada has sold out
one-month ahead of schedule with five times the anticipated
audience. The response demonstrates high demand from small and
medium-sized businesses representing the full spectrum of
Canada's economy.
Gateway '17 Canada will feature Jack
Ma, executive chairman and founder of Alibaba Group, as well
as special guests representing some of Canada's foremost business leaders and
brands.
"The interest in Gateway '17 Canada has been incredible and
signals that companies of all sizes are keen to go
global. China is such a big opportunity for Canadian
businesses who have the high-quality brands, products and travel
experiences that are in demand by today's China's booming middle class," said
Michael Evans, president of Alibaba
Group. "We are excited to meet with these businesses to explore the
various ways they can enter and grow in the China market."
Gateway '17 Canada has attracted a mix of 2,500 attendees from
entrepreneurs to small and medium-sized businesses to leading
brands and retailers.
- The vast majority of registrants (68 per cent) are small
businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
- The event is attracting a variety of organizations, from
start-ups to seasoned Canadian businesses.
- Attendees represent companies from manufacturing and retail,
professional services, agribusiness, and travel and tourism
sectors.
- Of the manufacturer/retailer attendees, only 27 per cent
currently sell to China.
- Ticket-holders from British
Columbia to the Atlantic Provinces will be in attendance,
making Gateway '17 Canada a coast-to-coast draw.
Attendees will hear about Canadian success stories and have an
opportunity to speak with Alibaba customers who are tapping into
China's retail market, which, by
2020, is expected to exceed C$7.7
trillion, roughly the size of the Canadian and U.S. retail
markets combined.
"As a small Canadian company with no physical presence in
China, we're delighted by the
success we've experienced there, which has surpassed our
expectations," said Husayn Remtulla, chief executive officer of
Viva Naturals and Alibaba customer. "Chinese consumers are looking
for quality health products, and the best way to reach them is
through e-commerce. We're excited about the prospects for future
growth in this market." Remtulla will be onsite at Gateway '17
Canada to share his experience with business owners.
"Our clients are looking for new ways to grow, and global trade
is one of the fastest and most effective ways for Canadian
businesses to achieve that growth. We're proud to work with
Alibaba—supporting Gateway '17 reflects how important global trade,
and the opportunity in China, is
to our clients and to Canada,"
said Greg Grice, executive vice
president, Business Financial Services at RBC and platinum sponsor
of Gateway '17 Canada. "We're helping our clients take advantage of
the booming demand for high quality Canadian goods by using RBC's
expertise, network and scale to navigate global markets with
confidence."
Gateway '17 Canada attendees will participate in category
breakout sessions, business solution sessions and marketplace
networking. They will also learn about how Alibaba's online travel
marketplace and payment solutions can help Canadian businesses in
serving the rapidly expanding outbound Chinese travel and tourism
market.
About Alibaba Group
Alibaba Group's mission is to make
it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the
future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers
will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that it will be a company
that lasts at least 102 years.
SOURCE Alibaba Group