First Russian–Chinese e-commerce platform launches
Russia’s Trade Representative in China Alexey Gruzdev has attended a launch ceremony for China’s first Russian–Chinese e-commerce platform, organized by Harbin-based company Yiwu Tianxia.
Among those at the ceremony were representatives of government agencies from Harbin and the province of Heilongjiang, as well as members of the Chinese business community. Russian participants included senior executives from the online retailer Е96.ru and the consulting company EWC Group.
The Russian–Chinese e-commerce initiative was set up to serve as a cash and barter trade platform for wholesalers and retailers.
Access to the online platform will give Russian producers and manufacturers the opportunity to offer a range of finished products to Chinese consumers (metal products, equipment, foodstuffs, furs, arts and crafts, etc.), while greatly reducing expenditure of time and resources. A comprehensive set of services for customers using the platform is also in the pipeline. These will initially include consultancy, logistics, customs clearance, and certification services, and may conceivably be expanded to include promotion for Russian goods on the Chinese market.
A strategic cooperation agreement between Е96.ru, the Harbin-based company, and a number of Chinese organizations was also signed at the ceremony. According to reports, the platform is not expected to be fully up and running until at least May this year.
Source: http://economy.gov.ru/minec/activity/sections/foreigneconomicactivity/department/20160208 (Russian)
