Alibaba to invest £11.3 billion in logistics over next 5 years

The logistics investment is intended to further strengthen Alibaba’s global logistics network. It aims to fulfill orders in China within 24 hours and within 72 hours anywhere in the world. These investments are expected to enhance the overall logistics experience for consumers and merchants across the Alibaba ecosystem, as well as to enable greater efficiencies and lower costs in China's logistics sector.

The investment will cover increased R&D in logistics data technology, as well as for development of smart warehousing, smart delivery and global logistics infrastructure, all of which are core to building the global logistics network of the future.

Upon completion of the transaction, Alibaba's stake in Cainiao will increase from 47% to 51%, and Alibaba will gain one additional new seat on Cainiao's board of directors, increasing its board representation to four out of seven seats.

"Our goal with this investment is to provide comprehensive, first-class experience for consumers globally," said Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group. "Our commitment to Cainiao and additional investment in logistics demonstrate Alibaba's commitment to building the most-efficient logistic network in China and around the world. By enhancing the logistics capabilities within the Alibaba ecosystem and extending our investment in this sector, we are further enabling our New Retail strategy to bring online and offline retail into one seamless experience for shoppers. We will also continue to deepen our collaboration with various logistics partners to achieve this goal."