Google invests $550 million in JD.com strategic partnership with overseas focus

JD.com and Google have announced that Google will invest $550 million in cash into China’s largest retailer as part of a strategic partnership. The companies hope to explore retail opportunities together in Southeast Asia, the US and Europe and certain products will be made available on Google Shopping, according to an announcement released on JD’s summer mega sale day, ‘618’ or June 18, the anniversary of the company’s founding in 1998.

Although Google is blocked in JD’s homeland and main market, China, the partnership recognizes the technical prowess of the US tech giant and hopes to merge it with JD’s supply chain and logistics skills and scale.

“We are excited to partner with JD.com and explore new solutions for retail ecosystems around the world to enable helpful, personalized and frictionless shopping experiences that give consumers the power to shop wherever and however they want,” the release quotes Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler as saying.

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