ALIBABA.COM LAUNCHES INAUGURAL KEL AWARD, MALAYSIANS ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce, today announced the inaugural Key E-commerce Leader Award (KEL Award), designed to honour distinguished e-commerce suppliers within the South Asia and Southeast Asia regions.

Alibaba.com said in a statement that the KEL Award, set to be launched this week and run until November this year, will feature eligible suppliers from seven countries namely India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

“These suppliers will compete in national rounds within their respective markets from August to October. The 10 best performers from the national round will take the stage in the finale to be held in Vietnam in November, where three of the most outstanding contestants among them will be crowned the winners of the KEL Award,” it said.

It said contestants are expected to showcase their use of Alibaba.com in developing and expanding their export ventures, along with the strategies they employ to stand out in the global market.

“Evaluations of the KEL Award will be based on the substance and creativity of their presentations, effectiveness in communication and personal brand portrayal, in-depth understanding of the Alibaba.com platform, and adeptness in fielding questions and articulating plans to impact and inspire others within the e-commerce community.

“The competition is open to owners, key personnel and managers of companies selling on Alibaba.com with a minimum rating of two stars and an active presence on the platform for at least six months,” the statement said.

Alibaba.com added that KEL Award aims to bring together top-notch suppliers across the region and foster mutual learning and engagement and offers a stage for participants to expand their influence within their community of global buyers and suppliers, enhancing their visibility and opening doors to collaborative opportunities.

“Contestants will stand a chance to gain access to Alibaba.com’s expert-led training sessions designed to bolster their operational proficiency on the platform as well as develop their soft skills critical to leadership, public speaking and team management.

“Outstanding suppliers in the competition will be entitled to exclusive benefits including enhanced product showcase slots and keyword advertising bonuses to boost their products’ exposure on Alibaba.com,” it said.

Meanwhile, Alibaba.com head of South and Southeast Asia, Roger Luo said the KEL Award aims to serve as a vital platform for high-calibre small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on Alibaba.com’s platform to showcase their business acumen and innovation while fostering cross-market collaboration and learning.

“By spotlighting the success stories of the contestants, we aspire to motivate countless other SMEs engaged in global trade to reach new heights of success on the international stage,” he said.

The KEL Award’s top three contestants will receive the additional award of a sponsored “Dream Trip” to Alibaba.com’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China.

All winners from the country round will also be appointed as Alibaba.com lecturers, gaining opportunities to impart their insights and experiences with fellow suppliers from the South and Southeast Asia region.

Those who are interested can register from now until late July this year at https://survey.alibaba.com/apps/zhiliao/g9Iw8Uien.

-- BERNAMA