Alibaba to set up regional center in Central China’s Henan province

Alibaba signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the government of Henan province in Central China and also the government of Zhengzhou, Henan’s capital, on Tuesday, according to the company’s press release.

Under this deal, the provincial and city governments will support Alibaba in establishing a regional center in Zhengzhou, building a cloud platform. Alibaba is meant to help the province develop its digital economy.

Henan is the largest province in the country by population, home to 107.8 million internet users. It boasts one of the 12 free trade zones nationwide, along with Shanghai and Zhejiang province, where Alibaba is headquartered.

Alibaba said in 2018 Zhengzhou was one of the top 10 cities that were home to owners of newly-opened Taobao online stores.

In addition, more than RMB 10 billion (USD 1.45 billion) agricultural products from the province were sold via Alibaba’s platforms last year, up 94% year-on-year.