Alibaba Cloud recently introduced its China Gateway Program alongside eight local partners: the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), Enterprise Singapore, DBS SME Banking, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), SMU Academy, SGTech, Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE), and TechNode.

Alibaba Cloud, the data intelligence branch of the Alibaba Group, recently hosted its second Alibaba Cloud APAC Summit in Singapore, showcasing its dedication to serving Asia.

During the summit, the company announced the China Gateway Program in collaboration with IMDA, Enterprise Singapore, DBS SME Banking, SCCCI, SMU Academy, SGTech, ACE, and TechNode. This program aims to assist local businesses of all sizes in expanding beyond Singapore, particularly into the Chinese market.

Selina Yuan, President of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International, stated, “As the leading public cloud provider in Asia Pacific and the data intelligence backbone of all Alibaba ecosystem business units, from e-commerce to payments, logistics, and supply chain management, we possess the proven skills and experience to support business growth. With our partners’ support, we are certain in our ability to help local businesses of all sizes and backgrounds expand beyond Singapore, specifically into the Chinese market.”

Yuan added that Alibaba Cloud is committed to facilitating a swift entry into China for its customers through a secure platform, sharing resources, best practices, and knowledge of local regulations. She emphasized their mission to simplify business operations globally, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Singapore Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Education, Chee Hong Tat, highlighted in his address that while digital technologies offer new opportunities, successful implementation often necessitates collaboration. He acknowledged the diverse solutions provided by digital solution providers and Alibaba Cloud’s commitment to working with Singapore-based MNCs and SMEs. He sees the China Gateway Program as a valuable channel for Singaporean SMEs to access the Chinese market.

Tan Su Shan, Group Head of Institutional Banking at DBS Bank, emphasized the significance of overseas expansion for DBS SME customers while recognizing the challenges they face due to a lack of market knowledge. Tan expressed DBS’s honor in partnering with Alibaba Cloud’s China Gateway initiative to help customers seize growth opportunities in the Greater China region, leveraging their network, expertise, and partners.

The program leverages Alibaba Cloud’s experience in driving the Alibaba Group’s growth to empower local businesses to capitalize on growth opportunities in Asia and China. Through regional partners, Alibaba Cloud will provide businesses of all sizes with an immersive program on navigating the Chinese business landscape, connecting them with Chinese companies and consumers through the Alibaba ecosystem.

At the summit, Yuan emphasized Alibaba Cloud’s focus on serving Asia as a whole, rather than solely China. Yuan stated that “Alibaba Cloud is positioned as the cloud for data intelligence for the future makers of Asia Pacific.”

Alibaba Cloud also revealed partnerships with WeWork, a platform providing workspace and community for creators, and SoftBank Telecom China, a provider of enterprise-grade solutions, as part of the China Gateway program.

This collaboration provides a comprehensive platform encompassing cloud-based technology solutions, enterprise services, flexible workspaces, events, and business consulting, catering to businesses of all sizes aiming to enter or expand their presence in the Chinese market.

Businesses can leverage cloud and data intelligence technologies, cross-border IT infrastructure, and industry-specific enterprise solutions offered by Alibaba Cloud, the largest cloud service provider in the Asia Pacific region (APAC). Additionally, participants gain access to WeWork’s flexible collaborative spaces, networking opportunities, and connections with potential customers and partners in China. Softbank Telecom China contributes professional IT consulting services, go-to-market support, access to local tech communities, and other business support. This program empowers global companies to create and seize business opportunities within the Chinese market.

Lancelot Guo, VP of Alibaba Group and GM of Strategy and Marketing for Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, highlighted the unique value proposition of this partnership, stating that it offers businesses focused on China access to local expertise, industry-specific experience, and innovation from three visionary companies. He emphasized their joint commitment to connecting global enterprises with digitally-savvy Chinese customers. Guo believes that Alibaba Cloud’s technologies and Alibaba’s ecosystem support will address challenges faced by multinational companies entering or expanding in China, unlocking opportunities and fostering competitiveness.

Christian Lee, Vice Chairman of WeWork Asia, emphasized the significance of this partnership for WeWork, drawing upon their own experience establishing and scaling their business in China. He highlighted their localized approach and successful strategy in building the largest workplace platform in China. Leveraging their experience and partnership with Alibaba Cloud, WeWork aims to empower companies entering and scaling in China through a comprehensive offering of space, community, employee experience, and access to business connections and partnerships.

This platform also offers special pricing for other Alibaba Cloud and WeWork offerings. Beyond traditional benefits, participants can access exclusive Alibaba Cloud-hosted technology workshops, marketing opportunities, discounts on products and services, and training and events organized by WeWork, Alibaba Cloud, SoftBank Telecom China, and other program partners to gain deeper insights into the Chinese business environment.

The summit also served as the launchpad for over 10 new products and features, including an accelerator program connecting technology partners with the Alibaba ecosystem. Many of these offerings were recently introduced in China and are being launched outside of China for the first time in Singapore.

Yuan reiterated Alibaba Cloud’s position as the largest public cloud provider in Asia Pacific and their role in accelerating digital transformation through world-class cloud infrastructure and data intelligence. Alibaba Cloud not only powers the Alibaba economy but also ensures inclusivity by making cloud technologies accessible to companies of all sizes.

Among the new products and features globally available for the first time outside of China is an SaaS Accelerator, enabling ecosystem partners in industries like e-commerce, lodging, and travel to connect with customers on Alibaba platforms quickly.

This accelerator allows technology partners to efficiently develop and launch software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications while leveraging the proven business and technology expertise of the Alibaba Economy. SaaS providers can rapidly deploy and test their applications on the cloud, reducing implementation time and accelerating time-to-market. According to Dr. Derek Wang, GM of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence in Singapore, apps can be created in just five days.

In line with its commitment to supporting small businesses, Alibaba Cloud has also enhanced its service support campaign for SMEs, offering them greater access to resources and support. Key benefits include dedicated one-on-one pre-sale consultations, 24/7 technical support, doubled complimentary tech support tickets, and expedited after-sales support.

Alibaba Cloud boasts the largest infrastructure footprint in the Asia Pacific region, with 15 availability zones outside mainland China, covering Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Japan. Alibaba Cloud established its international headquarters in Singapore in August 2015, alongside a Singapore cloud data center. Singapore currently houses three availability zones. It is the only global cloud provider with local data centers in Indonesia and Malaysia. Last year, Alibaba Cloud opened its first cloud-based Anti-DDos Scrubbing Center in Malaysia, providing an extra layer of protection for its customers.

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