Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Alibaba Group executive chairman Jack Ma attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the KLIA Aeropolis DFTZ Park on Friday (Nov 3).
SEPANG: The much-awaited Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) is finally off the ground.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Alibaba Group executive chairman Jack Ma attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the KLIA Aeropolis DFTZ Park, located at the KL Air Cargo Terminal 1 here.
The KLIA Aeropolis DFTZ Park will be Alibaba’s first regional hub outside China.
“Since day one of our collaboration, Malaysia has never failed to impress me,” Ma said in remarks contained in a press release handed out to the media before the groundbreaking ceremony Friday.
“I believe that this is the beginning of a long-standing strategic partnership between the two nations.
“Alibaba Group definitely plans to stay and strengthen our presence here,” he added.
Najib in his prepared remarks said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have the power to transform the economy.
“They are ambitious, nimble and have the potential to create high value employment.
“They have the power to move Malaysia to become a high-income nation,” said Najib.
Najib and Ma are later expected to head to the Sepang International Circuit for the DFTZ opening ceremony.
The event, known as “DFTZ Goes Live!” will among others see Najib and Ma flagging off more than 1,900 SMEs on board the DFTZ.
The DFTZ, which Najib launched in March, is an “e-hub” set up with the Alibaba Group and Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
The DFTZ will enable local SMEs and e-commerce businesses sell their products globally more easily.
It also aims to help make Malaysia the regional fulfilment hub for global brands to reach Asean buyers.
