Alibaba.com helping suppliers and customers in tough economy times

New large-scale programs were initiated by Alibaba.com, the world's leading business-to-business e-commerce company, in a move to add benefits to customers and suppliers in its global import/export marketplace. To enhance the reliability and quality of the suppliers Alibaba will launch the Quality Supplier Program, and to extend Alibaba.com's premium storefront service to a broader group of export suppliers the company will be offering the Gold Supplier Starter Pack.

Within the frames of the new Quality Supplier Program Alibaba will be partnering with VeriSign as an additional authentication and verification provider. VeriSign, the trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world, will provide authentication and verification services to verify the identity of suppliers displayed on the Alibaba.com web site. Besides, the program will include a new policy to de-list and terminate the accounts of non- complying members based on substantiated complaints.

As for new Gold Supplier Starter Pack this new entry-level product was developed to allow exporters to shift their business online to achieve efficiencies in the current economic environment. At commission of RMB19,800 (US$2,900) per year merchants will be provided with basic storefront display and unlimited product listings. Alibaba.com's existing Gold Supplier membership that is RMB50,000 (US$7,300) will include more value-added services such as additional Virtual Showrooms(TM) that will enable suppliers to substantially increase the visibility of their key products. Besides, suppliers will be provided with corporate email accounts, a virtual factory tour as well as storefront management tools such as Traffic AnalyzerTM and Buyer GPSTM.