The confirmation by the European manager of Alibaba that the Chinese e-commerce giant will indeed set up its leading European hub in Liège is “a significant delivery” of the strategy of the Liège region. It favours operations within the logistics sector. Willy Demeyer, the Mayor of Liège, was pleased about this, when questioned during the broadcast “Matin Première” on, the morning broadcast on Première (RTBF).
Mr Demeyer commented, “I believe that there will be significant spin-offs from the move. It is delivering the logistics strategy for the Liège region, which is taking shape. If investment takes place in the Liège region, Belgium as a country will follow suit. The move could translate into thousands of jobs.”
Terry von Bibra, the European manager for the Chinese e-commerce giant, confirmed that Liège will well and truly be the leading Alibaba hub in Europe. He was speaking to the newspapers L'Echo, De Tijd and Het Laatste Nieuws.
The arrival of the Chinese company had been announced, with great fanfare, by the Prime Minister Charles Michel. However, the Netherlands had suggested shortly afterwards that they might reap the benefits of the move.
Liège was designated - alongside Hong Kong, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Moscow – as the new hub of the global network of Cainiao, the logistics subsidiary of Alibaba. The European boss of the subsidiary, alluding to the annual Chinese Festival of Bachelors, said, “The first aeroplanes flew from Hangzhou to Liège as November 11th was approaching.”
The Brussels Times
