BEIJING, China: Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma may be offered an advisory post to help Malaysia develop its digital economy, Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah said today.

“We will discuss with him about bringing his ideas, and there’s also talk about appointing him to the digital councils in Malaysia, to get his ideas,” he told Malaysian media upon arrival here as part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s delegation. 

Mohd Irwan said the digital economy is going to be “in thing” now and for the next 10-20 years, and cooperation with China will benefit Malaysia in terms of human capital development and economic progress.

Najib will meet with Ma as part of his official visit here starting today.

The prime minister will have a roundtable meeting with 30 captains of industry from China, as well as deliver a keynote address at the Malaysia-China Business Forum on November 1.

Ma, the first mainland Chinese entrepreneur to appear on the cover of Forbes, will also speak at the forum.

The Alibaba Group is a family of successful Internet-based companies, and was the largest IPO in US history in 2014.

Jack Ma’s net worth is currently estimated at US$37.1 billion.

Najib will also launch the Alitrip Malaysia Tourism Pavilion, where Malaysian tourism destination’s will be featured on the travel portal. Alitrip — part of the Alibaba Group — is an e-commerce platform to help tourists, especially from China, learn about new tourist destinations.