Alibaba’s Tmall Global has launched two import solutions that will help boost the entry of international products into China over the next five years.

The Centralized Import Procurement (CIP) and Tmall Overseas Fulfillment (TOF) initiatives are expected to help expedite the entry of international brands into China, as well as benefit from the increasing demand for high-quality products in the country.

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Local customers will also have access to multiple imported products.

“This approach allows them to test and adjust their product collection prior to making a full-fledged entry into China.”

Tmall Import-Export general manager Alvin Liu said: “These new initiatives on Tmall Global, supported by the entire Alibaba ecosystem and benefiting both current and future partners, are needed enhancements as we strive to meet the rising demand of Chinese consumers for high-quality international products.”

Launched as a part of Alibaba’s new retail business unit, the CIP initiative offers international brands a fast, low-risk method of entering the Chinese market, allowing them direct access to approximately 700 million active users on Alibaba platforms.

Under the TOF initiative, international brands can place a small batch of their products at the TOF centres currently available in Japan, South Korea and the US.

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This approach allows them to test and adjust their product collection prior to making a full-fledged entry into China.

The TOF centres will be expanded into Europe later this year.

Alibaba’s logistics division Cainiao is supporting the initiatives by expanding its bonded warehouses in China.

Tmall Global is China’s leading cross-border platform, offering local consumers more than 20,000 overseas brands and 4,000 product categories from nearly 77 countries and regions.