Chinese marketplace JD.com to roll out Kazakh and Russian language versions this year

The marketplace will start operating in Kazakhstan / Photo: Shutterstock, photo editor: Adelina Mamedova

One of China’s largest online marketplaces, JD.com, is set to launch in Kazakhstan with Kazakh- and Russian-language versions. The project will be implemented in partnership with Kazpost, the country’s national postal operator, the company told Kursiv.media in response to an inquiry.

For this purpose, Kazpost has registered the joint venture Qazpost-JD Tech Co. at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC). A pilot launch is scheduled for October, with a full rollout expected in the fourth quarter of the year.

Kazpost will handle the logistical and financial aspects of the service, while its Chinese partner — the state investment fund CITIC Poly Fund — will be responsible for the marketplace’s technical operations and investments.

«The project’s launch will give Kazakhstani consumers access to a wide range of international goods, create new opportunities for domestic producers and entrepreneurs and strengthen the competitiveness of the national logistics sector,» Kazpost stated.

The postal operator stressed that the project with JD.com is not a «wholesale marketplace.» The service is intended for retail consumers.

Kazpost also explained why JD.com is not a direct co-founder of Qazpost-JD Tech Co. According to the company, this decision reflects the specifics of China’s investment model, under which international projects are implemented through state funds and their subsidiaries.

One of Qazpost-JD Tech Co.’s shareholders is Technology Industry SILK ROAD LLC, a subsidiary of CITIC Poly Fund. The latter, in turn, was established by the state conglomerate China Poly Group and one of China’s largest state investment corporations, CITIC Group.

Currently, the company’s charter is being finalized and the marketplace interface is being translated into Kazakh and Russian. IT teams are also being integrated.

JD.com is one of China’s largest marketplaces and a major global e-commerce player, competing with Alibaba (Taobao and Tmall) and Pinduoduo. The company operates one of Asia’s largest warehouse and distribution networks.