Stories by David Agba
Abuja
DHL Express, the world’s leading express logistics provider, will launch its growing beyond borders entrepreneurial training programme in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) in the coming weeks.
This is an innovative programme specifically designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) understand the economic potential of international trade and the subsequent benefits to their businesses.
The company will be launching the programme in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Mauritius, followed shortly by South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Uganda. The programme will be expanded to a further 16 markets across SSA before the end of the first quarter of 2016.
Managing Director for DHL Express SSA, Hennie Heymans, said that as Sub Saharan Africa continues to emerge as a growth market, so will the continent’s attractiveness for business expansion.
He added that the stable GDP forecasts for the Sub Saharan Africa region (4.6% in 2016 and 5% 2017(1), coupled with a booming e-commerce sector will create significant opportunities for innovative SMEs to service online-savvy customers.
“For example, in South Africa alone, the demand for online retail is growing rapidly, with significant opportunities existing to create cross-border e-commerce partnerships throughout Africa.” A recent report by Ipsos(2), on behalf of PayPal and FNB, revealed that the majority of South African online shoppers could be cross-border shoppers in the coming years. It also showed that up to 46% already shop outside of South Africa.
Similarly, the research shows 30% of Nigerian cross-border shoppers (online shoppers who have made purchases online from another country) have purchased goods from South Africa in the past 12 months.
He added however that while local entrepreneurs are identifying expansion and growth opportunities across Africa, many simply do not have the know-how to capitalise on these.
