Alibaba Chairman Urges Companies to Explore Growth Opportunities in Inter-Asia and Europe Amid US-China Tensions

Alibaba Group Chairman Joe Tsai urged Asian companies to explore inter-Asia opportunities and the European market for growth amid intensifying geopolitical tensions. Tsai highlighted ample inter-Asia business activity and mentioned Europe as an opportunity for Asian companies. Alibaba Group stock surged over 42% year-to-date, and it reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue growth of 7% to $32.58 billion.

Alibaba Group Holding chairman Joe Tsai has called on Asian companies to seek growth opportunities in inter-Asia trade and the European market, as geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China persist. Tsai made these remarks during a tech conference in Macau on May 24, emphasizing the potential for business activity among East Asian countries and the growing consumer class in Southeast Asia.

The ongoing U.S.-China trade war has had a significant impact on Alibaba's e-commerce operations, with the company's shares falling this week due to concerns over a potential AI deal with Apple [1]. However, Tsai remains optimistic about Alibaba's prospects, stating that the company is on a "very good path" and reiterating its focus on e-commerce and AI.

Alibaba has been releasing AI products at a rapid pace, with its Qwen3 flagship model rivaling DeepSeek's performance [1]. The company's stock has surged over 42% year-to-date, and it reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue growth of 7% to $32.58 billion [1].

Tsai also highlighted the importance of Europe as an opportunity for Asian companies, noting that Europeans have a different cultural mindset compared to Americans. He believes that this understanding of nuances can be beneficial for Asian companies looking to expand into the European market.

The OECD has engaged in policy dialogue and mutual learning with Southeast Asia for over 25 years, focusing on areas such as investment, taxation, education, digitalisation, and innovation [2]. The region has shown economic resilience through global challenges, with ASEAN countries' real GDP projected to grow up to 4.8% by the end of 2024 [2].

References:

[1] https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/alibaba-chair-says-asian-firms-can-seek-growth-outside-us
[2] https://www.oecd.org/en/regions/southeast-asia.html?wcmmode=json.html/