Ma looks to work his magic on China's dairy industry
From media to online financial services and milk products, Alibaba boss is steadily building a conglomerate that will touch many people's lives
As a layman who started his professional career as an English teacher, Alibaba Group Holding co-founder and executive chairman Jack Ma Yun does not know much about making films, running a soccer team or being a dairy producer.
But the wealth and influence gained from building Alibaba into the world's largest e-commerce company has given Ma ample resources to invest in such enterprises - either through his corporate flagship or other private entities - and hopefully make a big difference.
Through Hangzhou-based Alibaba's HK$6.24 billion takeover of ChinaVision Media Group in March, Ma gained entry into a raft of new endeavours, including production and distribution of films and television drama programmes, satellite television advertising, mobile digital content delivery and the print media business.
Last month, Alibaba paid 1.2 billion yuan (HK$1.5 billion) for a 50 per cent interest in Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club.
This made Ma the team's No1 patron, not unlike those wealthy foreign patrons to Europe's leading professional football clubs.
His latest bet, however, could help further secure his position as one of the mainland's titans of industry.