Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of China's Alibaba Group, officially opened Monday its first smart logistics hub at Liege Airport in Belgium.

The smart hub, the largest of its kind in Europe, is a key part of the agreement concluded in 2018 between the Alibaba Group and the Belgian government to join the global Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) initiative, which aims to lower barriers to global trade for small and medium-sized businesses via e-commerce.

Construction of the smart hub started in late 2019. It offer a new direct connection for Belgian traders to new markets.

The 30,000-square-meter (sqm) facility is divided into two parts: a 12,000 sqm air cargo station for the rapid transit of goods for both export and import between the airside and the landside of the airport; and an 18,000-sqm parcel sorting center that organizes parcels according to their destinations across Europe.

The facility is equipped with the latest digital technologies and designed to streamline terminal operation services by digitizing the flow of goods between China and the European bloc.

"This e-hub in Liege is equipped not only with equipment and digital management system from China, but also with high-quality automated machines and experienced European operators," said Zhang Chi, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Belgium.

"The integration of the best resources of our two parties, making it possible to optimize the logistical efficiency of this hub in Liege, will help consolidate the important position of Belgium and the Walloon Region as logistics hubs in Europe while strengthening Sino-Belgian cooperation as part of the Belt and Road Initiative," Zhang said.

"Cainiao is an ambitious and innovative partner, which pushes us to reinvent ourselves and to be better," commented Frederic Jacquet, chief executive officer (CEO) of Liege Airport. "Like other important partners of Liege Airport, Cainiao will help us grow in a win-win relationship, which finds its full meaning in the development projects that are ours."

Over the previous months, Cainiao, together with local partners, has recruited more than 200 local people to work at the facility. The project is expected to create 900 jobs when it reaches full scale. Cainiao plans to construct additional facilities in Liege in the future.

Founded in 2013, the Cainiao Network is a global industrial internet company and the official parcel tracking platform of the Alibaba Group.

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