Malaysia Airports and Alibaba Announce Operation Commencement

Malaysia Airports’ Aeropolis and Alibaba Group welcome the commencement of operations of the new e-fulfilment hub, Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub, Malaysia (formerly known as KLIA Aeropolis DFTZ Park) as part of their joint efforts in strengthening the economic recovery of Malaysia and supporting the increase in trade flow in the broader region.

The hub is a joint venture (JV) between Malaysia Airports and Alibaba Group, and a major project under the electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) partnership entered between the Malaysian government and Alibaba Group in 2017. The commencement of operations is expected to help facilitate 24-hour delivery within Malaysia for e-commerce operators, with the ultimate goal of enabling 72-hour delivery to the rest of the world.
 
Operated by Alibaba’s logistics unit, Cainiao Smart Logistics Network (Cainiao), Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub, Malaysia aims to help elevate KL International Airport’s (IATA: KUL) air cargo network status as one of the leading distribution gateways within the ASEAN region. The e-fulfilment hub will reinforce the country’s cargo and logistics ecosystem spanning air, sea and land connectivity.

On top of this, industry participants can look forward to the application of smart supply chain technology and knowledge transfer capability in logistics. Southeast Asia’s largest e-commerce firm Lazada is the first to leverage this hub while more companies are expected to move in soon to establish their regional distribution centers.

According to group chief executive officer (CEO) of Malaysia Airports, Dato’ Mohd Shukrie Mohd Salleh, the airport operator is constantly looking at initiatives that can leverage KLIA’s vast 10 x 10 km landbank, “The Cainiao Aeropolis eWTP Hub, Malaysia occupies 60 acres (2.6 million sqft) with 1.1 million sqft of warehouse space. We are confident that the new facility will be able to increase cargo volume by 700,000 metric tonnes, thus doubling KUL’s current volume to 1.4 million per year by 2029.

We are targeting vertical markets from the automotive, sporting goods, fast moving fashion and lifestyle, retail electronics and medical equipment sectors, among others.” “With the growth in cargo volume, we are looking at improved airline connectivity via KUL with new routes and increase in flight frequency, belly space utilisation and freighter capacity. We hope to double the current number of freighter flights in the next 10 years. Existing airline partners at KUL will enjoy new business yield while we create a synergistic partnership with local industry players e.g. Pos Aviation, MABKargo and GTR to integrate existing facility within the Cainiao Aeropolis eHub, Malaysia while the final mile delivery for the fulfilment of the goods will be operated by GDex, Pos Laju, J&T Express and others,” he said. 

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