DHL to Sponsor Major South African eCommerce Conference

As eCommerce grows, many events related to it are also coming up that showcase and discuss the future of the industry.

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One such conference that is coming up is the 2018 DHL eCommerce Money Africa Conference and Exhibition (Confex) which will be help in South Africa on March 14th and 15th. The conference is to be sponsored by DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

The Booming African eCommerce Opportunity

The conference has become one of the biggest events for eCommerce in the continent. The event has brought in together both investors as well as others to discuss the opportunities that eCommerce is opening up in Africa.

For the conference this year, strategies will be discussed to further open opportunities for the industry and cross-border trade.

“’Brand Africa’ has become increasingly popular across the globe and we’re thrilled to work with thousands of customers across the continent, helping them express their brand across borders,” Steve Burd, Vice-President for Sales for DHL Express Sub-Sahara Africa.

He also believes that eCommerce will continue to open opportunities for many businesses in Africa. Market research portal Statista also cites significant growth for eCommerce in the region.

The expansion is estimated to be 11.7 percent per year for both Africa and the Middle East. And this means great potential for businesses who would like to take advantage of the emerging eCommerce market.

“Accelerating eCommerce in Africa is Kinetic’s vision for the show in 2018, and partnering with industry giant DHL brings us one step closer to realizing this vision,” Shannon Mackrill, Joint Managing Director at Kinetic Events

The event will also feature master classes for SMEs that are looking into the possibilities of eCommerce. Providing guidance, especially to such a young market, can bring prosperity to areas that have long struggled to be part of a global economy.

DHL & Africa, Opportunity for SMEs

DHL’s investment in Africa includes building significant logistics resources at the continent’s first aerotropolis, Dube Tradeport.

“Upon completion, this air freight and passenger hub surrounded by industrial and agricultural zones aims to be the continent’s only facility combining an international airport, dedicated cargo terminal, warehousing, trade, and agrizone.” DHL said in a statement.

This type of infrastructure investment by DHL brings the company into a leading position to offer SMEs cross-border trade solutions that are reliable and secure.

Traditionally, many African regions have problems with reliable postal services, and many African country’s fiscal realities cannot keep up with required expansion for eCommerce.

DHL is investing in Africa to provide solutions for forward-thinking eCommerce SMEs to take advantage of a rapidly growing eCommerce market.

There is an excellent opportunity in the region, but logistic challenges must be solved for long-term growth. DHL appears to be stepping up its investment to do that.

How much do you think eCommerce will grow in Africa in the coming years? Post your comments below.