Alibaba.com, a business to business online marketplace, has announced the beta launch  of Export-to-China, a new service aimed at helping entrepreneurs and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) sell directly to Chinese buyers.

Export-to-China will provide international suppliers with a Chinese-language online
storefront on Alibaba.com’s China marketplace, which has an active community of over
25 million buyers and suppliers, said a company statement.

Export-to-China members will also benefit from Alibaba.com’s professional translation services and promotion at more than 40 major trade shows in China every year.

China’s role in the global market is evolving from a top manufacturing hub and exporter
into a powerful global buyer as well.

China’s growing demand for imported goods is being fueled by a booming economy, an emerging middle class, the rising Chinese Yuan and favorable government measures promoting imports.

“While China will continue to grow as the world’s largest supplier, its emerging role as a
major importer is creating opportunities for companies around the world, especially
SMEs,” said David Wei, chief executive officer, Alibaba.com.

“Chinese buyers are not just looking for luxury goods, natural resources and high end machinery, they are also interested in more basic items such as food and beverages, home supplies and health and beauty products,’ he noted.

“Until now, foreign companies have found it difficult to break into the China market because of language and cultural barriers and the high cost of developing a new market and setting up a sales network.

According to Alibaba.com’s estimates, around 64 per cent of its international suppliers are interested in selling into China and 52 per cent of its Chinese members require imported goods.

Alibaba.com began marketing the Export-to-China service on its website on June 20 and
has already signed up over 1,600 companies.

Gene Rumley, international marketing manager of Florida-based Bell Performance
signed up for Export-to-China in July 2008.

“In a time of rising fuel costs and increasing pollution, China represents a huge business opportunity for our company,” said Rumley.

“Our range of fuel and oil treatment products helps to reduce the running and maintenance costs of automobiles, trucks and boats as well as lowering pollution levels in industrial power plants.’

’As an Alibaba.com TrustPass member we have had great success finding new customers around the world and now Export-to-China can give us a direct channel to buyers in China,’ he added.

During the beta testing phase, Export-to-China storefronts will be displayed on Alibaba.com’s China marketplace and the service will be offered for free trial to all qualified Alibaba.com paid members for a limited period.-TradeArabia News Service