Alibaba’s business-to-business marketplace launches online global trade show for pandemic-hit merchants

The event, which will last until May 24, is expected to attract the participation of about 200,000 wholesalers each day. China’s total foreign trade in the first quarter fell 6.4% year on year amid weak global demand due to antivirus measures adopted in the US and Europe. — SCMP

Alibaba.com, the business-to-business (B2B) online marketplace owned by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, launched its first global online trade show on Monday to help coronavirus-hit foreign trade merchants reach customers in China after most physical exhibitions have been cancelled due to the pandemic.

The event, which will run until May 24, is expected to attract the participation of about 200,000 wholesalers each day, with 20 such online trade exhibitions planned by the company this year, according to an Alibaba statement.