Amazon opens its first of its kind African logistics centre in Egypt
Amazon.com Inc, the world’s biggest online retailer, has opened on Tuesday a logistics facility in Egypt.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Telecommunications Minister Amr Talaat, and Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea.
The 28,000 square-metre facility – the first of its kind in Africa – is part of Amazon’s long-term plans to expand its footprint in Egypt and boost investment in the country’s infrastructure, advanced technology, and e-commerce sectors, Ronaldo Mouchawar, Vice President of Amazon MENA, said.
This will be in line with Amazon’s plans to cater to Egypt’s internet-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Mouchawar further said, according to a Cabinet statement.
Located in 10th of Ramadan city in Sharqia governorate in Lower Egypt, the facility, aims to provide a faster shopping and delivery to meet the demands of online shopping customers in Egypt, the Amazon official noted.
Amazon has been operating in Egypt since 2017 through its affiliate Souq.com, introducing online shopping services and operating a widespread local logistics and operations network with 15 delivery stations nationwide, contributing to the creation of at least 3,000 jobs.
Mouchawar further said the e-commerce giant is investing more than 1 billion Egyptian pounds ($63.5 million) in the Egyptian market. Last year, Amazon at exploring whether Egypt could be a hub for the manufacturing of its own-brand products and for exports to the wider region, saying it would also work on alluring more local manufacturers to its marketplace.
Amazon’s new investment reflects its “firm and continued” commitment to supporting and strengthening Egypt’s economic sector, Mashhour noted.
Souq.com has become Amazon.sa and Amazon.ae in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE since Amazon acquired Souq.com in both markets.
The global online shopping platform giant announced in July that it plans to launch Amazon.eg later this year in a move that ultimately will replace Souq as Amazon’s Egypt selling platform. Amazon acquired the Dubai-based online retailer Souq in July 2017.
Vendors on Souq can now register on the Amazon Seller Central so as to start selling on Amazon.eg as soon as the site goes live later this year.
