Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding has announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in a logistics hub at Istanbul Airport and a data centre near the Turkish capital of Ankara. According to Turkey's Sabah newspaper, Alibaba President Michael Evans stated that the company is seeking to invest in Europe and the Middle East, and sees Turkey as a strong production base. The investment will be used to support e-export plans from Turkey to the Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East.

Evans was quoted as saying, "We have a serious investment plan at Istanbul Airport. We can evaluate e-export plans from here to Europe, the Middle East and the Far East. We plan an investment of more than $1 billion." Alibaba-backed e-commerce platform Trendyol, one of Turkey's most well-known online marketplaces, will also be positioned as a base for Europe and the Middle East as part of the company's expansion plans. Evans explained, "The reason we chose Trendyol was that its technology was advanced and its potential was great. We are positioning this place as a base for Europe and the Middle East."

This investment marks a significant expansion for Alibaba into the European and Middle Eastern markets, as the company looks to further expand its global reach. The logistics hub at Istanbul Airport and the data centre in Ankara will be key components in facilitating this expansion and supporting the company's e-export efforts.