Alibaba to build a trade hub in Belgium

Alibaba, the biggest Chinese online retailer is to build its own 220,000m² base in Belgium, close to the Liége airport – reported Handelsblatt. The company will invest at least EUR 75 million in the project. Alibaba’s expectation is that in the first five years more than EUR 200 billion worth of goods will be imported to China via the new trade hub, but the sales can also go in the other direction – stressed dgroup’s expert Olaf Rotax. The company’s first European trade hub forms part of a major plan to change international trade fundamentally, the name of the concept is electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP). More European logistics centres may follow for Alibaba: Bulgaria is likely to be the next location. //