Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of e-commerce giant Alibaba, has been named Special Adviser to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for Youth Entrepreneurship and Small Business.
In his new role as UNCTAD Special Adviser, Ma, 52, will champion initiatives to make it easier for young entrepreneurs and small businesses, particularly in developing countries, to participate in global trade, as well as raise awareness about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
"Ma is an influential and respected pioneer of the internet era, innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist," UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said.
"He brings a visionary approach to entrepreneurship, a thirst for learning, and a belief in a better world that make him a perfect ...