Temat: Alibaba.com CEO David Wei gives Arnold Schwarzenegger a...

AliFest 2010: That's a Wrap

By Jim EricksonSep 11, 2010

Alibaba.com CEO David Wei gives Arnold Schwarzenegger a tour of Alibaba headquarters in Hangzhou, China

After giving a wide-ranging keynote speech inviting China to buy goods and services from his economically struggling state, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger left AliFest 2010 with more than just a pocketful of Chinese business cards. Alibaba.com, which hosted the annual e-commerce forum in Hangzhou, China, reached an agreement to collaborate with California on an educational program that would equip 3,000 of the state's recent college graduates with the skills to compete in the digital economy.

Backed by a $3 million investment from Alibaba.com, the California Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative aims to foster jobs by giving grads classroom instruction, web-based consultation and other assistance so they can develop their own e-commerce companies. The program will be offered throughout 2011 in conjunction with 15 state-owned colleges and universities.

Small businesses generate 65% of new jobs in the U.S. With jobs scarce amid the country's halting economic recovery, "more and more college students are forgoing joining companies upon graduation and are instead starting their own businesses," explained Alibaba.com CEO David Wei. "This wouldn't have been possible several years ago, but the Internet is bringing the world together and making starting a business easier because it gives even small companies a low-cost way to reach suppliers and customers all over the world."

The announcement of the initiative came at the close of the seventh annual AliFest – formally known as the Netrepreneur Summit – which took place on Sept. 10-11. In addition to Schwarzenegger, this year's kenote speakers included eBay CEO John Donohoe and U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman. They were backed up by panel discussions and presentations from prominent business leaders including Liu Chuanzhi, chairman of consumer electronics giant Lenovo Group; and Li Shufu, chairman of Geely Holding Group, one of China's leading automakers. More than 50 journalists from international publications attended, along with hundreds of domestic reporters.

AliFest this year also featured the 2010 Top 10 Global Netrepreneur of the Year award ceremony and the launch of the Women's Forum, where some of China's leading female entrepreneurs discussed the secrets of their success. And as a special addition to this year's AliFest, Alibaba Group flew to Hangzhou a 50-strong contingent of international collegiate entrepreneurs, members of the Kairos Society, who participated in a four-day program of seminars and road trips.

Click the links below for coverage of the summit.

Stories

Student Entrepreneurs Get a Taste of China at AliFest

Alibaba and eBay: Best Frenemies Forever?

Blogs

South Korea Picks Up the E-commerce Tab

Geely Automobile president says China's consumers aren't ready to buy cars online

Ripped Like Me: Arnold's Workout Advice

Videos

Kairos Collegiate Entrepreneurs Look East

eBay CEO John Donahoe and Alibaba Group CEO Jack Ma Vow to Cooperate, Not Compete

AliFest Day One: Net Products Trade Fair highlights

Schwarzenegger Visits Alibaba Group HQ, Pitches Fruit in Chinese Supermarket

California's Governor Gives Jack Ma a Terminator Makeover

http://www.alizila.com/details/index.php/news/2010-09/43/

------------------------------
http://Dropshoper.com