DHL, the world’s leading international express services provider, has partnered with e-commerce giant, MallforAfrica’s new platform, Marketplace Africa, to help online retailers bring Africa-made products to the US and global market
The site offers items from the continent’s designers and artisans from a variety of categories including fashion, body care, handbags, jewellery and home décor.
DHL will manage all logistics services as their e-commerce delivery solutions are designed with small businesses in mind and provide the speed of delivery that customers expect.
Hennie Heymans, CEO for DHL Express for Sub-Saharan Africa, added, “DHL is a facilitator of global trade and if we can improve connectivity and accessibility to global markets for local business, this will go a long way in helping small businesses grow.”
The Africa Made Product Standards (AMPS) is used to ensure that the highest quality products are being sold on the Marketplace Africa platform. It provides consumers with the assurance that products meet an international standard in quality.
Chris Folayan, CEO of MallforAfrica, said, “Africans finally have the opportunity whether banked or unbanked to showcase their amazing talents and skills to the world and sell their products.”
Worldwide retail e-commerce sales reached over US$2 trillion in 2017 and expected to grow by 20 per cent annually until 2020.
“Marketplace Africa will open the door for African designers and craftspeople and enable customers in the US and the world the ability to purchase authentic African-made products directly from the source,” Folayan concluded.
