Flamboyant Chinese billionaire Jack Ma has come to Ukraine to praise its “intelligent” people, young government and willingness to change. It is Ma’s first visit to Ukraine.
Ma, a co-founder of tech behemoth Alibaba and one of the world’s wealthiest people, came to Kyiv on Nov. 8 to give a pep talk to the business community. Talking about Ukraine, he complimented Ukrainian talents and gave advice on how to deepen the country’s relationship with China.
“You have a young government,” Ma said, speaking in an auditorium at the Kyiv International Economic Forum packed with local business people and politicians. “You never see a government with a 44-year-old president and a 35-year-old prime minister. They don’t have experience? Give (them) a chance.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom Ma described as “brilliant, young, and passionate,” had given a speech just before the Chinese tech magnate went on the stage. Zelensky emphasized investing in local talents, which echoed Ma’s message.
“What he just said — I love it,” Ma said. “Do invest in the people, in the future, in small and medium-sized enterprises.”
Chinese tech magnate Jack Ma speaks at the Kyiv International Economic Forum. Ma encouraged Ukrainians to leave universities and go make mistakes running their own busines, instead. “More mistakes more success,” he said. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
“I love the people here,” he went on. “It’s the intelligent people, the openness of this country, the culture. You people believe in the future, you are making the change. Nowhere in the world… very few countries I know have a ministry of innovation. You do. You love to change.”
In fact, Ma claimed he had “admired” Ukraine for a long time: “You guys are so lucky. You are this nation with such a colorful history. I think China and Ukraine will definitely work more. I’m inviting many of my business friends to come to Ukraine.”
Some of the main reasons to come, according to him, are the young government, fertile land and local talent.
“Huge potential,” he said. “And I am not speaking as a politician, I am speaking as a businessman.”
Chinese tech magnate Jack Ma, a co-founder of Alibaba, speaks at the Kyiv International Economic Forum on Nov. 8, 2019. Ma believes that in order to be successful, people have to work 12 hours a day from Monday to Saturday. (Kostyantyn Chernichkin)
All the same, the Chinese businessman admits there are problems. For example, shipment of an item from Alibaba’s e-store AliExpress to Ukraine takes an average 47 days.
“I just can’t believe this. Are we going back in time? This is like in the previous century,” he said, pointing this out as Ukraine’s misstep. “Improve it.” To do that Ukraine has to fix logistics, foster its electronic development, provide the omnipresent internet and support local entrepreneurs.
“If these four things are ready, Ukraine has huge potential.”
