Alibaba.com brings Open Sesame to India

Alibaba.com, the world’s leading online marketplace for international trade, hosted its first Open Sesame event in India at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

Held on the sidelines of The 5th China Products Exhibition on 14th December, the event attracted over 100 folks from the small business segment from across the country. The event was also an opportunity for Alibaba.com’s Indian members to get together and share their experiences in international trade and e-commerce.

Speaking on the occasion, Brian Wong, Senior Director of International Business Development and Marketing, Alibaba.com, said, “India is a priority market for Alibaba.com in 2008 and beyond. With about 300,000 registered users, India is one of Alibaba.com’s most important markets worldwide and the biggest in Asia for its international marketplace.”

Alibaba.com is focused on helping small and medium suppliers and exporters from India promote their products to the world. It will also help Indian SMBs become more competitive by making their import and export business easier in a growing global economy.

It recently launched a new Indian channel, www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/IN/India.html, which provides a platform for international buyers to source goods and services from India. “We want to become the leading online marketplace for international trade to and from India. We plan to double our Indian membership base in 2008 and are actively looking for local partners in India to help us reach more local small and medium enterprises,” added Wong.

Meanwhile, this is the first time Alibaba.com has launched a country-specific channel on its international marketplace, highlighting the importance of Indian products in today’s global trade landscape.