Alibaba Cloud Launches First Public Cloud Region in the Netherlands

• Two new data centres aim to bring robust infrastructure, lower latency and in-region data residency to local and European customers
• New AI and cloud products unveiled to meet the growing demand of enterprise AI in Europe

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 October 2026 – Alibaba Cloud, a leading global provider of AI infrastructure and the intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced the launch of its first public cloud region in the Netherlands, located in Amsterdam, with two new data centres now available to meet growing European demand for cloud and AI services. The announcement was made at the first International Apsara Conference, Alibaba Cloud's flagship technology event in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

"The Netherlands is one of Europe's most vibrant digital economies, and our first region here is a direct response to the strong demand we see from local businesses building and scaling with AI. By bringing our advanced AI and cloud capabilities to Amsterdam, we are giving customers the in-region infrastructure, performance and data residency they need to innovate faster, scale securely and operate with greater efficiency in the AI era," said Dr. Feifei Li, Chief Technology Officer and President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

The launch reflects surging customer demand as European businesses scale cloud-native operations and integrate AI at scale. By establishing infrastructure locally, Alibaba Cloud can deliver more resilient, low-latency services, strengthen disaster recovery, and support customers who require their data to be processed and stored locally in Netherlands and within Europe.

The new region offers a comprehensive suite of cloud computing products—spanning elastic computing, storage, container, networking, big data, security, database and cloud-native services. To meet the growing demand for enterprise agents across Europe, Alibaba Cloud also plans to bring a suite of agentic AI services to the region.

These products include ACS Agent Sandbox, which provides hardware-level security isolation while reducing the operational cost of AI agents; Agent Security Center, an integrated defense platform for AI agents; AI Security Guardrails 2.0, an upgraded security solution with end-to-end risk detection capabilities; Agentic SOC, an enterprise-grade, AI agent-driven security operations platform; and STAROps, a comprehensive intelligent operations platform. Together, these products are designed to streamline the building and running of enterprise-scale agents in a secure environment, giving enterprises full-cycle management of agent engineering.

During the conference, Alibaba Cloud also unveiled the latest generation of Apsara Stack, a flexible hybrid cloud solution built on public cloud architecture for public sector and enterprise AI workloads. The new solution delivers more than 80 cloud and AI products and provides round-the-clock service to customers worldwide. Powered by AI-driven operations and maintenance, it has improved operational accuracy to 92.5% and increased automation rates to 70%.

Apsara Stack offers a seamless hybrid cloud experience by bringing full-stack capabilities on premises. The platform combines flexible deployment and licensing with robust disaster recovery and enhanced security. This enables finance, telecom and public sector organizations to maintain controlled asset ownership and compliance while benefiting from agile cloud scalability.

Building a Robust Ecosystem with Customers and Partners to Thrive in the AI-powered Digital Era

As AI and cloud adoption accelerate, the new Netherlands region enhances Alibaba Cloud's ability to deliver AI-ready infrastructure to European businesses—improving resilience, reducing latency, strengthening data localisation and supporting broader digital transformation goals. A growing ecosystem of Netherlands-based innovators is already building on Alibaba Cloud's advanced and secure cloud and AI technologies.

• JetBrains, a software development company is working with Alibaba Cloud to explore the integration of Qwen models to power Junie, JetBrains AI coding assistant, across both cloud and local scenarios. The collaboration gives JetBrains and its developers strong cost-to-performance, early access to frontier Qwen models, and the flexibility to choose where models run — from in-region cloud to fully local, on-device setups.

"AI development is moving quickly, and developers need the freedom to choose the tools and models that work best for them. Working with Alibaba Cloud gives us an opportunity to combine JetBrains' expertise in software development and AI with Alibaba Cloud's infrastructure and AI capabilities, giving developers more choice while keeping them in control of how they build with AI," said Kirill Skrygan, CEO of JetBrains.

• Netherlands-based LLM platform orq.ai has partnered with Alibaba Cloud to integrate Qwen models into its hosted model garden, served natively from Alibaba Cloud's AI development platform Model Studio. This integration allows orq.ai's customers to access diversified cutting-edge generative AI while maintaining strict EU data localisation.

"For us at orq.ai, the value of local infrastructure is what businesses can build on it. We welcome Alibaba's investment in the Netherlands and look forward to working together to help more organisations put AI into everyday use in a reliable and scalable way," said Anthony Diaz, Co-Founder and CPTO, orq.ai.

• Monks, a global digital-first marketing and technology services company headquartered in Amsterdam is integrating Alibaba's latest generative AI models into Monks.Flow, its proprietary end-to-end AI marketing platform through Alibaba Cloud Model Studio platform. By leveraging Alibaba Cloud's advanced AI capabilities, Monks can deliver highly ambitious creative assets faster, providing global brands with greater speed-to-market and flexible token optionality. The companies plan to expand the use of these models beyond content creation into wider marketing workflows, with Monks adopting Alibaba latest AI models in the future.

"AI moves fast. Our job is to turn that progress into a creative and commercial advantage for our clients, and to provide flexibility and optionality in their token usage. Our partnership with Alibaba Cloud will give our teams access to its latest image, video and language models for use in Monks.Flow, helping us bring more ambitious ideas to life and get great work into market faster," said Wesley ter Haar, Co-Founder of Monks and Chief AI Officer.

• Magnific, the world's leading AI platform for creatives serving more than one million subscribers and thousands of enterprise clients worldwide, has integrated Alibaba's advanced AI models into its platform to help content creators generate, enhance, and refine content more efficiently, while unlocking new levels of creativity and productivity.

"We are pleased to partner with Alibaba and integrate its advanced AI models into Magnific. This collaboration strengthens our platform and gives creators more powerful tools to accelerate their work and expand their creative possibilities," said Jose Florido, CGO from Magnific.

• Idea.ai, an Amsterdam-based digital design marketplace, has leveraged Alibaba's advanced AI models to power its next generation of generative media inside idea.ai, delivering high-quality, cost-competitive creative tools to its tens of millions of registered users. The two companies plan to deepen their collaboration across the full creative spectrum.

"We are committed to making great creative tools accessible to everyone, and Alibaba Cloud's advanced AI models help us deliver that at scale cost-effectively. This is just the start; we're excited to deepen the collaboration across the whole creative industry," said Roemie Hillenaar, CEO and Co-founder, Idea.ai.

Alibaba Cloud's Growing Presence Across Europe

As part of Alibaba's previously announced US$53 billion investment in AI and cloud infrastructure, the new Netherlands region expands Alibaba Cloud's global infrastructure to 109 availability zones across 32 regions worldwide, providing secure, scalable and robust cloud and AI infrastructure to support customers everywhere on their digital innovation journeys.

Joining Alibaba Cloud's existing European regions in Germany (Frankfurt), the UK (London) and France (Paris), the Netherlands becomes the company's fourth region in Europe, giving businesses more in-region options for data residency and keeping their data and AI workloads within Europe.

In addition, Alibaba Cloud is also planning to establish its first cloud regions in Finland, while expanding its data center footprints in Germany and France over the next 12 months. The expansion will further increase Alibaba Cloud's global computing capacity and strengthen its ability to provide localized cloud and AI services to customers across key European markets.

Hashtag: #AlibabaCloud

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Alibaba Cloud

Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com) is a global leader in full-stack AI+Cloud solutions. It offers a comprehensive suite of flexible, scalable and secure cloud services built on a three-tiered architecture of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Model-as-a-Service (MaaS). Alibaba Cloud empowers enterprises worldwide with its full-stack AI capabilities, powered by Qwen (Chinese: Qianwen), a family of large language and multimodal AI models developed by Alibaba. Debuted in 2023, Qwen models are available to global developers via HuggingFace (open-weight) or through API on Model Studio, Alibaba's one-stop, enterprise-grade AI development platform offering access to the full suite of Qwen foundation models.

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Attracts Active Participation from Industry Professionals and the Public, and Brings Together More Than 50 Enterprises to Showcase Innovative Logistics Solutions

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 October 2026 – Organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and funded by the Logistics Promotion Funding Scheme (LPFS) under the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund of the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the HKSAR Government, LogTech Expo 2026 attracted strong participation from industry professionals and the public, bringing together over 50 logistics, supply chain and innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises, as well as representatives from industry, academia and the public sector. The Expo showcased innovative technologies and applications spanning artificial intelligence (AI), smart supply chain management, smart warehousing, logistics robotics, green logistics and the low-altitude economy, fostering the integration of technology with real-world logistics scenarios and exploring new opportunities in the digitalisation and smart transformation of the logistics industry.

Aligned with the logistics and innovation priorities outlined in Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address, including strengthening Hong Kong's role as an international maritime centre and international aviation hub, promoting modern logistics development, and accelerating AI and low-altitude economy applications, the Expo was held under the theme "Smart-Driven Transformation, Leading the Future of Logistics". Through exhibitions, forums, technical sharing sessions and business matching activities, the event promoted the integration of innovative technologies with real-world logistics applications and accelerated the industry's digital and intelligent transformation. The Opening Ceremony was officiated by Mr YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government, and Mr DU Yonghai, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC. The Expo also received support from more than 20 industry organisations.

Mr YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said: "Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address put forward the goal of fully developing Hong Kong into a 'Global Maritime Capital', focusing on the two key areas of 'increasing quantity' and 'improving quality'. Driving the smart and green transformation of the logistics industry is one of the key priorities under the 'improving quality' agenda. The LogTech Expo has become an annual event for the logistics industry, enabling industry stakeholders to learn about the latest logistics technology solutions and to discuss the development trends and applications of smart logistics. It is hoped that this will help enhance the productivity of the industry and maintain the competitiveness of Hong Kong's logistics sector."

Mr DU Yonghai, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC, said:"AI has evolved from being a tool for enhancing efficiency into a key engine driving the transformation and upgrading of the logistics industry. Through the integration of AI, robotics, automation systems and data analytics technologies, enterprises can enhance supply chain visibility, optimise decision-making processes and respond more quickly to changing market demands. HKPC has been actively promoting the application of AI and advanced manufacturing and logistics technologies. Through LogTech Expo 2026, we hope to facilitate technology exchange and cross-sector collaboration, helping the industry seize new opportunities arising from smart logistics and the low-altitude economy, while supporting Hong Kong's logistics sector in advancing towards greater efficiency, intelligence and sustainability."

AI, Robotics and Smart Warehousing Solutions Take Centre Stage

This year's Expo brought together more than 50 logistics, supply chain and I&T enterprises, showcasing a wide range of smart logistics applications covering AI, smart warehousing, logistics robotics, supply chain visibility, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and automated logistics systems. Through real-world use cases, exhibitors demonstrated how AI, robotics and data technologies are enhancing logistics operations, optimising warehouse management and improving supply chain transparency.

Highlights included quadruped robots (Robot Dogs), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), intelligent sorting systems, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), RFID logistics tracking solutions and high-density smart warehousing equipment, which attracted strong interest from visitors seeking to understand their practical applications and future potential in logistics operations. Companies including BPS Logistics Technology, HSM Industrial Solution Limited, Million Tech Development Limited, IoT Systems Limited and Beijing Xingdongjiyuan Co., Ltd. showcased innovative solutions in smart warehousing, automated operations and supply chain management.

Participating companies also affirmed the Expo's effectiveness as a platform for industry engagement. Eddie CHAP, General Manager of Supply Chain Solutions of Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited, said, "The Expo brought together stakeholders from across the logistics and supply chain sectors, providing an ideal platform for industry exchange and the showcase of smart logistics solutions."

Mandy MAK, Chief Operating Officer of Swivel Software, said, "The Expo helped facilitate effective alignment between logistics technologies and industry needs, driving the practical adoption of innovative solutions and advancing digital transformation within the industry."

Industry Leaders Discuss AI Applications and Smart Logistics Trends

The Expo also facilitated the sharing of practical industry experience through thematic forums and technical presentations. One of the highlights was the opening seminar, "Smart Tools for Logistics: Practical AI Applications and Insights", moderated by Ryan IP, Vice President and Executive Director of the Public Policy Institute of Our Hong Kong Foundation. The seminar featured Professor LAI Kee-hung, Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Sunny HO, MH, JP, FCILT, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Shippers' Council; Keno CHEUNG Tai-yip, President of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong; and Suki CHEUNG Shuk-ming, Chief Executive Officer of MG Ship. The panel explored the logistics industry's ongoing digital transformation from a model of "reactive response" to one driven by "predictive decision-making", and examined the significant value of AI in enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening risk management. Speakers noted that despite AI's enormous potential, the industry continues to face challenges such as gaps between expected and actual returns on investment, poor data quality, and cybersecurity and compliance requirements. The speakers also pointed out that approximately 65% of small and medium-sized enterprises remain at an early stage of technology adoption. They unanimously advocated for the education sector to cultivate multidisciplinary talent equipped with critical thinking skills, while calling on the Government and industry stakeholders to jointly promote affordable and user-friendly digital solutions. Such efforts, they said, would help narrow industry gaps and accelerate the comprehensive upgrading of the logistics sector.

Throughout the day, the Expo hosted more than 10 thematic forums and technical sharing sessions covering AI, digital twins, cross-border e-commerce logistics, supply chain visibility, ESG and green logistics, and the low-altitude economy, providing an important platform for the industry to exchange practical insights and explore the latest technological applications.

Fostering Industry Exchange and Business Collaboration

In addition to the exhibition and seminar programme, the Expo featured a dedicated networking and business matching session that brought together exhibitors, logistics and supply chain practitioners, partners, buyers and other industry stakeholders to have in-depth discussions on logistics technology applications, digital transformation strategies, market trends and potential collaboration opportunities. This helps connect technology providers with enterprise users while facilitating the adoption of innovative solutions and new business partnerships, and further strengthens the Expo's role as a platform for logistics technology exchange, business matching and knowledge sharing.

Looking ahead, HKPC will continue to work closely with industry partners to promote the practical adoption of AI, automation, data-driven technologies and other innovations across the logistics sector. By fostering deeper integration between technology and industry applications, HKPC is committed to supporting the digitalisation, intelligent transformation and high-quality development of Hong Kong's logistics industry.

Please download the high-res photos HERE.

Photo Captions:

1. Mr YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP (middle), Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government, Mr DU Yonghai (right), Chief Innovation Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and Ms Karen FUNG, Chief Marketing Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council officiate at the Opening Ceremony of LogTech Expo 2026.

2. Mr YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government, delivers remarks at the Opening Ceremony of LogTech Expo 2026, sharing insights on logistics technology and smart logistics development.

3. Mr DU Yonghai, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC, said that AI is increasingly becoming a key driver of transformation and upgrading across the logistics industry. He noted that HKPC will continue to promote the adoption of AI and advanced logistics technologies to help the industry enhance competitiveness and operational efficiency.

4. Mr DU Yonghai, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC, said that AI is increasingly becoming a key driver of transformation and upgrading across the logistics industry. He noted that HKPC will continue to promote the adoption of AI and advanced logistics technologies to help the industry enhance competitiveness and operational efficiency.

5. Mr YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government, toured the exhibition and exchanged views with exhibitors on the latest applications of AI, automation and smart logistics technologies.

6. The opening seminar, "Smart Tools for Logistics: Practical AI Applications and Insights", was moderated by Ryan IP(1st left), Vice President and Executive Director of the Public Policy Institute of Our Hong Kong Foundation, and featured Professor LAI Kee-hung(2nd left), Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Sunny HO, MH, JP, FCILT, (2nd right), Executive Director of the Hong Kong Shippers' Council; Keno CHEUNG Tai-yip, (1st right), President of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong; and Suki CHEUNG Shuk-ming, (middle), Chief Executive Officer of MG Ship. Together, they explored how AI can enhance logistics operational efficiency, drive supply chain digitalisation and support Hong Kong's development as a smart logistics hub.

7. HSM Industrial Solution Company Limited: Hong Kong's first industrial mobile charging robot addresses the challenge of ageing power grids lacking three-phase power supply, enabling flexible charging for industrial fleets and private vehicles without costly grid upgrades or additional charging infrastructure.

8. Axis Communications Limited: The edge AI monitoring system integrates video analytics, temperature sensing and gas detection technologies to identify workplace safety incidents in real time and issue instant alerts, enhancing warehouse safety management.

9. BPS Logistics Technology (HKLTS): Equipped with infrared sensing capabilities, the quadruped inspection robot is specifically designed for inspection tasks and operations in hazardous environments across construction sites and logistics facilities, helping to reduce personnel safety risks.

10. Summation Solutions: The RFID inventory robot can automatically scan warehouse racks up to 2.8 metres in height, significantly improving inventory accuracy while reducing manpower requirements.

11. Million Tech Development Limited: The automated labelling system uses robotic arms to precisely handle goods of different shapes, effectively reducing labour costs and training requirements in logistics packaging operations.

12. The Embodied AI International Applications Hub under the Hong Kong Industrial Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Centre (FLAIR): Designed for small-parcel sorting, the humanoid robot is capable of operating 24/7 and is continuously being enhanced to meet the diverse parcel-handling needs of Hong Kong's logistics sector.

13. Centre of Advanced Power and Autonomous Systems (APAS) under HKPC: Featuring high payload capacity and obstacle-avoidance capabilities, the autonomous mobile robot and electric delivery vehicle support the logistics industry's ESG transformation through all-lithium electric technology.

Hashtag: #HKPC

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.

HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC's world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.

To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong's strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.

HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical, assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit HKPC's website: www.hkpc.org/en.

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