Date exporters in Saudi Arabia are exploring the use of the Alibaba platform to promote and export dates globally, including to China
Several companies from Saudi Arabia recently visited Alibaba Group’s HQ in Hangzhou, according to the Saudi Press Agency, with the aim of boosting promotion of Saudi dates in global markets.
Organised by the National Center for Palms and Dates (NCPD), the six-day visit showcased premium dates from 23 Saudi firms to Chinese food industry companies, and explored the use of Alibaba in promoting and exporting Saudi dates, including to China.
Mohammed Al Nuwairan, chief executive of NCPD, said that featuring Saudi dates on the Alibaba platform would facilitate access to global markets, and would build on the partnership established between date companies and Alibaba Group during December’s World of Dates Expo in Riyadh.
Last year, Saudi Arabia saw a 14 per cent rise in exports of dates and derived products, the Saudi Press Agency reported, with growth in value from SR1.28bn (€315m) in 2022 to SR1.46bn (€359m).
Saudi dates have reportedly seen exports increase by 152.5 per cent since 2016 and are now imported by a total of 119 countries.
