E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
TT

E-commerce Giant Alibaba Has Completed 3-year 'Rectification' Period

Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters
Alibaba Group has completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior. Reuters

China's State Administration of Market Regulation issued a statement on Friday saying Alibaba Group had completed three years "rectification" following a fine levied in 2021 for monopolistic behavior.
In 2021, the regulator slapped a record $2.75 billion fine on the e-commerce giant for abusing its market position by forcing merchants on its platforms not to work with rival platforms.
The regulator's statement said Alibaba's rectification work had achieved "good results" and that it would continue to "guide" Alibaba to continue to "regulate its operations and improve its compliance and quality."
The fine levied on Alibaba in 2021 came during a period of intense scrutiny for the business empire founded by billionaire Jack Ma, Reuters reported. A $37 billion IPO by the finance arm he founded, Ant Group, was also scuttled following Ma's public critique of the country's regulatory system in late 2020.
Alibaba, in its own statement, described the regulator's announcement on Friday as a "new starting point for development" and said it would continue to "promote the healthy development of the platform economy and create more value for society."



Saudi Minister of Industry Visits Columbia University, Engages with Saudi and International Students

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits Columbia University on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits Columbia University on Wednesday. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Minister of Industry Visits Columbia University, Engages with Saudi and International Students

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits Columbia University on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visits Columbia University on Wednesday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef visited on Wednesday Columbia University in the United State, the oldest university in New York State.

He was briefed on the latest academic programs supporting the industrial and mining sectors and met with faculty members, as well as Saudi, American, and international students from around the world.

During an interactive discussion with academics and students, Alkhorayef discussed Saudi Arabia’s industrial and mining transformation journey, focusing on promising industrial sectors being developed and localized as part of the national industrial strategy.

He emphasized the goals of Vision 2030 to transform the Kingdom into a leading global industrial power by maximizing the economic contribution of the industrial and mining sectors, diversifying income sources, and increasing their contribution to the GDP.

Alkhorayef highlighted the importance of the scholarship program as a vital cultural bridge for fostering civilizational communication among nations.

He stressed that the Kingdom relies on and invests in its citizens to shape the future, citing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Scholarship Program and the Human Capacity Development Program, both aimed at developing national talents and equipping them with the skills needed to compete globally across various fields.

He noted that the industrial and mineral resources ecosystem is keen on engaging with scholarship students abroad, helping them explore future opportunities in the industrial and mining sectors through various programs and initiatives.

The visit to Columbia University is part of Alkhorayef's ongoing tour of the United States, which runs until September 28 and includes stops in New York, California, and Nevada. The tour aims to boost industrial and mining cooperation, attract quality investments to the Kingdom, and explore mutual opportunities in advanced industrial sectors.