Alibaba Group was established in 1999 by 18 people led by Jack Ma, a former English teacher from Hangzhou, China. From the outset, the company’s founders shared a belief that the Internet would level the playing field by enabling small enterprises to leverage innovation and technology to grow and compete more effectively in the domestic and global economies. Since launching its first website helping small Chinese exporters, manufacturers and entrepreneurs to sell internationally, Alibaba Group has grown into a global leader in online and mobile commerce. Today the company and its related companies operate leading wholesale and retail online marketplaces as well as businesses in cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, innovation initiatives and others.

January
Alibaba Group launches the Alibaba Business Operating System, a holistic one-stop solution to accelerate companies’ digital transformation.

February
Alibaba Cloud announces the Tech for Change initiative, which aims to tackle global social and humanitarian challenges through technologies.

Announcement of the Tech for Change initiative

March
Alibaba Group acquires majority ownership of Alibaba Pictures.

March
The Alibaba Economy Technology Philanthropic Committee is established with a focus on technology-driven philanthropy.

Establishment of the Alibaba Economy Technology Philanthropic Committee

June
Alibaba Group enters into a strategic collaboration with the municipal government of Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China to launch an eWTP hub in Yiwu.

Yiwu, the world’s largest wholesale market, joins eWTP

September
Alibaba Group acquires Kaola, an import e-commerce platform in China.

September
Alibaba Group announces a refresh of its six core values on the 20^th anniversary of its founding.

Alibaba Group celebrates its 20^th anniversary

September
Alibaba Group receives a newly-issued 33% equity interest in Ant Financial.

September
Alibaba Group announces its goal of serving over one billion annual active consumers and achieving over RMB10 trillion in annual GMV through its China consumer business by the end of fiscal 2024.

November
Alibaba Group increases its equity stake in Cainiao Network to approximately 63%.

November
The Government of Ethiopia and Alibaba Group sign agreements to establish an eWTP hub in Ethiopia.

eWTP is launched in Ethiopia

November
Alibaba Group is officially listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited.

Alibaba Group goes public in Hong Kong