Alibaba to recruit 3,000 people in 2009

Alibaba Group, parent of China's leading e-commerce provider Alibaba.com<1688> and Taobao.com, plans to recruit 3,000 people next year despite the weary market condition, sources reported, citing Jack Ma, chairman of the group, as saying.

According to Ma, Alibaba expects to raise the number of its staff to between 14,000 and 15,000 in 2009 from the current 11,000.

Ma noted, to some extent, the financial storm also provide unprecedented opportunities to enterprises and China will still hold its leading position in the world's manufacturing industry despite the economic turmoil.

Shares of Alibaba lost 2.82% to close at HK$4.48 on Tuesday.