Technology

Alibaba Releases Report on Cross-Border Trade’s Positive Impact on the U.S. Economy

Published

2 years ago

March 6, 2024

New report quantifies the positive economic impacts of cross-border trade conducted by businesses leveraging Alibaba platforms, tools and solutions

NEW YORK, March 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988 (HKD Counter) and 89988 (RMB Counter), “Alibaba” or “Alibaba Group”) recently announced findings from a new report highlighting Alibaba’s positive impact on the U.S. economy and how its e-commerce platforms support U.S. businesses. The report reflects positive growth in both retail sales and employment numbers in the U.S. resulting from the sale of American products to Chinese consumers through Alibaba’s range of online marketplaces and platforms.

Alibaba Group continues to support businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to multinational corporations, by providing them with e-commerce platforms and solutions to enhance their operations and create new growth opportunities in overseas markets. As such in 2022, $66.2 billion in sales from U.S. brands to Chinese consumers on Alibaba platforms helped to add $52.9 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supported over 403,000 U.S. jobs, according to the report compiled by NDP Analytics and commissioned by Alibaba.

“E-commerce opportunities across industries continue to grow as consumer demand increases and new technology emerges to enhance the online shopping experience,” said Eric Pelletier, Head of International Government Affairs at Alibaba Group. “At Alibaba, we’re proud that U.S. businesses looking to expand globally count on platforms and solutions from Alibaba to empower them to tap into new markets – such as the rapidly growing Chinese market – to fuel their business growth.”

Alibaba Impact Across the U.S. Economy
As U.S. businesses broaden the scope of their operations to a global level, Alibaba supports businesses throughout the U.S. in capturing growth opportunities by tapping into a growing Chinese customer base. The report shows the positive impacts on those businesses who have taken advantage of Alibaba’s variety of platforms and solutions in the form of product sales, job growth, indirect impacts and more. Key findings include:

Product sales drive growth: In 2022, large and small U.S. brands utilized Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms to sell approximately $66.2 billion worth of products to consumers in China. That represents a 47.4% increase since 2019 ($44.9 billion). These products range from consumer staples to luxury goods, and the three largest product categories powering sales were computers & electronics, apparel & leather products, and personal care & cleaning products.Employment numbers rise from coast to coast: As sales surged on Alibaba’s platforms, U.S. businesses saw new needs in manufacturing and production, and ramped up their own operations to meet demand. Based on official production employment data published by the U.S. Census, U.S. brands created an estimate of 96,660 direct production jobs (56.6% of 170,867 total direct jobs) to support $49.3 billion in U.S. brand sales on Alibaba’s platforms in 2022. Most of these jobs, totaling 117,270, were generated in the Pacific region, including Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon and Hawai’i. This was followed by the South Atlantic division stretching from Washington, D.C. to Florida with 52,693 new jobs.Small businesses see a boost: Small businesses play an integral role in the U.S. economy, and those that have utilized Alibaba’s platforms have been able to go beyond their U.S. customer base and reach the world’s largest consumer market of more than 1.4 billion people. In fact, U.S. small businesses with under 100 employees generated $6.7 billion in sales, accounting for 13.5% of U.S. brand sales on Alibaba’s platforms.Effects rippled throughout the supply chain: The impact is not felt just by those businesses that use Alibaba’s platforms, but also by businesses throughout their supply chains (indirect impact), and the local communities where U.S. workers at the brands and along the supply chain spend their wages (induced impact). In 2022, sales from U.S. products sold on Alibaba’s platforms created an additional $41.3 billion in indirect and induced output for companies and supported 232,044 indirect and induced jobs along the supply chain and in communities nationwide.

“We are committed to developing new innovations and solutions to aid U.S. businesses as they seek to build on their successes in China and other global markets,” said Pelletier. “Alibaba’s mission has always been ‘to make it easy to do business anywhere,’ and we firmly believe that our platforms offer U.S. businesses a unique growth opportunity. We support and act as a true partner for any business leaders and decision-makers utilizing our platforms to help propel their businesses beyond their domestic market.”

Alibaba aims to bring together businesses from the U.S. and across the globe, enhancing partnerships and helping them to develop stronger cross-border relationships. Through these and the latest tools and innovations from Alibaba’s platforms, businesses of all sizes are able to expand beyond their domestic market and elevate their brands globally.

For more information on Alibaba and the report, please visit Alibabapowersbusinesses.com.

About the Report
This report relied on data provided by Alibaba for 2022 from platforms including Taobao Global, Tmall, Tmall Global, Freshippo and Koala. Additional data comes from official industry statistics, economic multipliers compiled and published by U.S. governmental agencies and third-party research. This includes data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the U.S. Census Bureau and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

About Alibaba Group
Alibaba Group’s mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that it will be a good company that lasts for 102 years.

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SOURCE Alibaba Group

Technology

Accord Specialty Pharmacy Named Finalist in MMIT’s 11th Annual Retail Specialty Pharmacy Patient Choice Awards

Published

19 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

ORLANDO, Fla., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Accord Specialty Pharmacy, an independent specialty pharmacy serving patients across multiple states, has been named a finalist in the MMIT Patient Choice Awards, a recognition based on patient-reported satisfaction and experience.

Accord was selected as the only independent pharmacy among finalists in its category, alongside national pharmacy organizations such as Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and Walmart Specialty Pharmacy. This distinction highlights the company’s commitment to delivering personalized, high-touch care for patients managing complex and chronic conditions.

The MMIT Patient Choice Awards recognize specialty pharmacies that demonstrate excellence in patient satisfaction, service quality, and overall care experience. Finalists are determined based on direct patient feedback, making the recognition a meaningful reflection of the trust patients place in their pharmacy providers.

“Being recognized alongside national organizations and as the only independent finalist validates our belief that personalized, patient-centered care drives better outcomes. We are building a model that combines clinical depth, national reach, and operational flexibility to better serve patients, providers, and partners.” said AJ Patel, Founder and Pharmacy Manager of Accord Specialty Pharmacy.

Accord Specialty Pharmacy supports patients across complex specialty categories, including oncology, rare disease, and infusion, through a clinically driven, high-touch care model designed to improve access, adherence, and outcomes. The company’s approach emphasizes personalized support, responsive care coordination, and strong clinical engagement to help patients navigate complex therapies more effectively. With a growing national footprint and multi-state licensure, Accord is positioned to support patients, providers, and partners across diverse markets.

For more information, visit MMIT Announces Finalists of the 11th Specialty Pharmacy Patient Choice Awards – MMITNetwork.

About Accord Specialty Pharmacy:

Accord Specialty Pharmacy is an ACHC-accredited, multi-state licensed independent specialty pharmacy located in Central Florida, dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care for individuals managing complex and chronic conditions. Through personalized support, clinical expertise, and a high-touch approach, Accord helps patients navigate every step of their treatment journey. Learn more at www.accordspecialty.com.

CONTACT: contact@accordspecialty.com

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SOURCE Accord Specialty

Technology

HAIVISION ANNOUNCES VOTING RESULTS FROM 2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

Published

19 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

MONTRÉAL, April 23, 2026 /CNW/ – Haivision Systems Inc. (“Haivision” or the “Company”) (TSX: HAI) is pleased to announce the voting results from its annual meeting of shareholders held today in a virtual format.

A total of approximately 45.97 % of the issued and outstanding common shares of Haivision were represented at the meeting.

Election of Directors

Each of the six nominated directors of Haivision was elected as director of the Company with the following results:

Director

Votes
For

% Votes
For

Votes
Against

% Votes
Against

Miroslav Wicha

11,110,245

99.26 %

82,583

0.74 %

Harvey Bienenstock

11,155,137

99.66 %

37,691

0.34 %

Robin M. Rush

11,121,855

99.37 %

70,973

0.63 %

Neil Hindle

10,794,005

96.44 %

398,823

3.56 %

Julie Tremblay

10,941,969

97.76 %

250,859

2.24 %

Lee K. Levy II

9,084,418

81.16 %

2,108,410

18.84 %

2. Appointment of Auditors

Deloitte LLP were reappointed auditors of the Company for the ensuing year with 12,492,582 (98.84%) votes cast in favour and 146,406 (1.16%) votes withheld.

3. Approval of the Unallocated Awards under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan

The Company’s unallocated awards were approved with 8,710,347 (77.82%) votes cast in favour and 2,482,481 (22.18%) votes cast against.

4. Reapproval of Company’s Shareholder Rights Plan

The Company’s shareholder rights plan was approved with 10,572,490 (94.46%) votes cast in favour and 620,338 (5.54%) votes cast against.

Final voting results on all matters voted on at the meeting will be filed under Haivision’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Haivision

Haivision is a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video streaming and visual collaboration solutions. Our connected cloud and intelligent edge technologies enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision making. We provide high quality, low latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale. Haivision open sourced its award-winning SRT low latency video streaming protocol and founded the SRT Alliance to support its adoption. Awarded four Emmys® for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Haivision continues to fuel the future of IP video transformation. Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Learn more at haivision.com.

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SOURCE Haivision Systems Inc.

Technology

Noritz upgrades EZ Pro Series of tankless water heaters with larger, multi-function panel display for faster installation and servicing

Published

19 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Improved, fully integrated diagnostic interface eliminates the need for a separate remote controller, providing key system status data and enhanced digital controls to ease startup, operation, and maintenance for pro installers and service techs.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Noritz America, an international leader in tankless and electric heat pump water heaters and high-efficiency combination boilers, has further enhanced its EZ Series Pro line of residential condensing tankless water heaters by expanding both the size and the functionality of the units’ built-in control panel, whose user-friendly digital interface is mounted prominently on the front exterior.

Providing upgraded monitoring and diagnostic capabilities, the multi-function panel display allows professional installers to view system status, temperature settings, service reminders, maintenance data, error codes, error history, and (if applicable) recirculation timing settings. All of this vital information is built in and readily accessible on the water heater. Besides eliminating the need for a separate, external remote controller, the panel enables guided setup during installation and faster, more effective troubleshooting.

In addition, installers and users can monitor and program the unit remotely via Bluetooth® connectivity that works alongside the panel, using the EZ Start Plus app on their smartphones. A separate external remote is optional.

“The intent of our upgrade efforts was to create a more satisfying user experience for both the professional and the consumer,” says Noritz Executive Vice President and General Manager Jason Fleming. “We focused on simplified installation, advanced diagnostics, and giving professionals and their customers easier, more responsive control of the water heater.”

Essential Features of the Multi-Function Panel

Below are the main features and capabilities of the upgraded, built-in, multi-function panel and related control system:

Digital temperature control: Professional installers and service technicians will find it easier to use the enlarged panel to set the output water temperature to 100° – 140° Fahrenheit. Temperature settings are available in increments as small as 5°F.

Key benefits: More precise temperature control for professionals and, as a result, safer, more consistent hot-water delivery for end users.

Integrated Bluetooth connectivity; no more dip switches: The EZ Start Plus app enables installers and service techs to perform system setup, adjust the temperature, run diagnostics and share this information electronically with Noritz Technical Support. Installers can even register the water heater to qualify for the accompanying warranty.

Key benefits: Simplified startups mean faster installs, minimizing the manual programming that installers previously had to perform. Smartphone-based control and troubleshooting eliminate the need for old-style manual adjustment of physical dip switches.

Improved service access: Even the physical design of the EZ Series Pro has been reengineered to work more effectively with the newly enhanced multi-function panel.

Key benefits: The latched, snap-lock front cover enables quicker access to components for easier maintenance and servicing.

Industry-Best Warranty

The upgraded EZ Series Pro continues to include three models, all with a Uniform Energy Factor of 0.98, the highest efficiency rating in the tankless water heater industry:

EZ71: input range — 12,800 to 160,000 BTU/hour; flow rate — 0.4 to 9.0 gallons per minute; turndown ratio — 12.5:1EZ98: 12,800 to 180,000 BTUh; 0.4 to 9.8 gpm; 14:1;EZ111: 12,800 to 199,900 BTUh; 0.4 to 11.1 gpm; 16:1.

All three units carry a 25-year limited warranty on their stainless steel heat exchangers, the longest such protection in the industry. Further protection includes a five-year limited parts warranty and one year for reasonable labor.

The water heaters use natural gas but are field-convertible to LP with a parts kit included with every unit. Two water heaters can be linked using Noritz’s optional Quick Connect linkage to double the hot-water flow rate.

Designed for wall-mounting indoors, the EZ Series Pro heaters can be direct-vented with two-, three-, or four-inch Schedule 40 or Schedule 80 PVC or CPVC, or two-inch or three-inch polypropylene venting. They can also be installed outdoors in milder year-round climates using an optional vent cap.

All EZ Series Pro models have received approvals from CSA, NSF5, NSF372, and are Low NOx approved by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (Rule 1146.2).

For more information on the newly upgraded Noritz EZ Series Pro, visit: https://ezseries.noritz.com/

A short product video is available at: https://youtu.be/m5iDn7sOGMc

For more information on the full line of Noritz tankless water heating products, visit www.noritz.com. You can also contact us by telephone at 866.766.7489 or by email at support@noritz.com.

For editorial assistance, contact John O’Reilly or Emma Wurzer at GreenHouse Digital PR, 15255 South 94th Avenue, Suite 500 | Orland Park, IL 60462; tel.: 708.428.6385; e-mail: john@greenhousedigitalpr.com | emma@greenhousedigitalpr.com.

Hi-res versions of photographs to accompany this press release are available for immediate download by using this link: https://noritz.greenhousedigitalpr.com/ez-series-pro-upgrades.

NORITZ AMERICA CORPORATION, a subsidiary of Noritz Japan, has corporate offices in Fountain Valley, Calif., and Atlanta, offering a full line of tankless water heaters and high-efficiency combination boilers to meet the hot water demands of residential and commercial applications. Noritz supports its products with a national network of skilled representatives and employees committed to providing our communities with the finest products and services by helping consumers live a more comfortable, efficient, and healthy lifestyle. For more information on Noritz America and the entire line of Noritz’s ENERGY STAR® tankless water heaters, please call (877) 986-6748 or visit our website at www.noritz.com.

CONTACT:
Andrew Tran
Noritz America
(714) 433-7813
atran@noritz.com

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SOURCE Noritz