Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten plans to expand into India by forging an alliance to launch a travel and hospitality website.

The website could possibly launch in the next six to eight months, sources say.

Rakuten plans to take a share of India’s e-commerce market, which according to Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMIA) and audit firm KPMG, was worth $13 billion in 2013.

It is expanding aggressively abroad to offset a stagnant economy at home.

The company will face competition from travel and hospitality portals Yatra, MakeMyTrip, Goibibo, Cleartrip and Expedia.