According to media reports, Alibaba Group chairman and CEO, Jack Ma, is looking to establish a joint venture to create an Internet-based financing business. The two other partners involved are reportedly represented by Ma Huateng, founder and CEO of Chinese Internet firm Tencent Holdings and the Ping An Insurance Group, respectively.
In April 2010, Alibaba was granted a license in China to offer loans leading to the launch of its micro financing service AliLoan – a loans provider to small entrepreneurs doing businesses on its e-commerce platforms.
Implications: When a new micro financing venture is in the works, credit information is not far behind. I will be interesting to note whether Jack Ma will be able to tap the Credit Reference Center of the People’s Bank of China for credit information or whether he will be allowed to build his own credit bureau.