Classe Export/Lyon, December 2007: Alibaba.com attended the Classe Export Convention for the 1st time this year starting towards a long term partnership between the two organizations. Classe Export is the leading private trade association committed to helping French SME's with their export needs. Alibaba.com and Classe Export see great value in partnering to utilize their complementary strengths to promote French export through a number of key initiatives during 2008 including participation in selected conferences & seminars and providing information for Classe Export members on how to use the Alibaba.com website to grow their businesses.

Classe Export has been a key player in international trade circles for 16 years thanks to its organisation of 38 conventions focusing on providing support to SME's wishing to go global.

The 17th edition of Classe Export Lyon was a complete success with more than 400 visitors attending the 41 different conferences and over 520 speakers and exhibitors attending. The format of the convention consisted of workshops, seminars and face-to-face meetings. This leading international trade event brought together all the key French international trade related organisations including Ubifrance, the Rhone Alpes'chamber of commerce.

Alibaba.com, the world's largest online marketplace for international trade, was invited to attend the event as an expert in e-commerce. During the 2-day event, the Alibaba.com team hosted over 25 meetings with SME's wanting to learn more about how to use Alibaba.com to open new markets for their products.

Alibaba.com's first time at the Classe Export convention was positively welcomed by the French business community with over 15 companies registering for TrustPass membership.

Mrs. Gaelle ABRY, Exhibition & Marketing Manager at Alibaba.com, shared her impressions: "It was such a pleasure to meet face to face with regional SME's who are eager to expand their business internationally. Some of them did not know the Alibaba.com platform and our tools in depth beforehand and left with the feeling that they have found their new global trade partner!"

Event pictures

Fair ground entrance

One to one meetings at our booth with French SME’s and happy customers