Digitally-connected micro, small and medium enterprises are now on the same playing field as large companies. They will play an increasingly important role in global trade, so policy-makers and regulators should try to create better business conditions, said Gao Hongbing, president of AliResearch - an institute owned by Alibaba, which founded China's largest online shopping platform Taobao.
Large companies used to play a dominant role in globalization, but now Internet-connected small businesses have come to occupy a no less important place, said Gao during a recent meeting on digital connectivity.
Making use of the infrastructure and services provided by Internet platforms, small businesses engage in in-depth collaboration and are playing on the same field as large companies, Gao pointed out. Sales of some 10 million micro, small and medium enterprises on the e-commerce platforms of Alibaba have surpassed even Wal-Mart, the world’s largest supermarket chain.
Internet platforms have also changed the pattern of global trade, Gao noted. Cross-border e-commerce has become extremely common between China and Europe, and still has huge potentials for growth. Small businesses, in particular, play an increasingly important part in cross-border e-commerce.
Gao argued that the government needs to pay attention to such companies. Specifically, they should be provided with necessary training programs, a level playing field and an open business environment.
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