China’s largest retailer, JD.com, has opened a local office in Australia’s city of Melbourne.
The move will help the company bring more imports into China from the region, amidst a ‘boom in demand’.
JD.com already have staff on the ground at their new headquarters, located on Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD, who will help the company offer Australian and New Zealand brands and retailers access to its 266.3m active users.
'Australian and New Zealand brands are in strong demand on JD.com, especially in the categories of food, agriculture, dairy and cosmetics,” said Winston Cheng, JD.com’s president of international.
“This office will help local products access that demand. We look forward to strengthening and promoting the trading relationship between these two great countries and China,” he said.
JD said they chose to locate their office in Melbourne because of opportunities presented for e-commerce businesses by the State of Victoria. This includes access to an abundance of local suppliers, Australia's only 24-hour shipping port, and a supportive local government.
Philip Dalidakis, Victoria’s minister for investment and trade, said he is excited to have JD.com opening its headquarters in Melbourne.
“This move is confirmation that we truly are Australia's e-commerce capital. We're already working closely with JD.com to connect them with businesses and opportunities here in Victoria and look forward to seeing the company go from strength to strength.'
