Davos, Switzerland, 26 January 2007 – Jack Ma, Founder and CEO of the Alibaba Group, today addressed delegates at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, a five-day gathering of CEOs, political leaders, statesmen, academics and celebrities from around the world.

Speaking at the keynote session, "Who Will Shape the Agenda?," Mr. Ma was joined by Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO of News Corporation, Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, Lloyd Blankfein, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Group, and Tzipi Livni, Israel's Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The session explored the role of media, government and business in framing the important debates of our times.

In his comments Mr. Ma discussed the role of the internet in empowering people to shape their own agenda through information exchange and e-commerce. The internet, he said, is changing the landscape for everyone. No one could have imagined a decade ago the huge impact e-commerce marketplaces like Alibaba.com have on helping economies and businesses grow and improving the lives of ordinary people.  

In 2000, Mr. Ma was selected by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader and has spoken at several Forum events. The Wall Street Journal featured a personal account of his experience at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in 2001 which can be accessed through the following link: http://resources.alibaba.com/article/1729/From_Shanghai_to_Davos.htm

Jack Ma, Young Global Leader, captured audiences during the session 'Who Will Shape the Agenda?' at the Annual Meeting 2007 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  

Photos by Remy Steinegger