Business updates

Alibaba Group (Australia and New Zealand) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GS1 Australia to formalise, promote and strengthen online trade between China and Australia.

During the event held in Melbourne on 6 January 2017, Russell Stucki, Chairman of GS1 Australia stated that the MoU signed would formalise the strategic partnership to support the growth and introduction of Australian brands using GS1 standards to the millions of online shoppers using Alibaba Group's platforms in China.

The signing of the MoU follows the October 2016 announcement from Alibaba Group, GS1 Global Office and GS1 China to standardise product information for the benefit of all supply chain stakeholders, especially consumers. Alibaba invited brand owners to adopt GS1 standards for product information management and the use of the barcode, or the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), for uniquely identifying their products within the Alibaba e-commerce network.