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Rabat – American global logistics leader UPS and African e-commerce company Jumia are launching a joint venture to expand delivery services for businesses and customers across Africa.
The partnership, which the two companies announced today April 4, will allow UPS to leverage Jumia’s distribution network and infrastructure to expand its services across Africa.
As part of the joint venture, UPS has pledged to provide its clients in Africa with a wide range of delivery solutions, such as door-to-door package delivery and collection, with a variety of payment options.
Meanwhile, UPS will be able to use the large network of Jumia drop-off and pick-up stations to increase its reach throughout more African towns and cities.
The partnership will initially include Morocco, Kenya, and Nigeria, meaning that UPS clients can pick up and drop off packages for international shipping at Jumia’s stations in those countries.
The two companies have ambitions to expand the partnership to Ghana and the Ivory Coast, and then the remainder of the African countries where Jumia operates.
Following the announcement of the partnership, Jumia’s shares skyrocketed by 24% as a result of providing UPS with shipping logistics.
Apoorva Kumar, Senior Vice President of Logistics at Jumia, stated that logistics infrastructure was one of the most challenging aspects for the company when it first started 10 years ago.
“Today, we are helping other businesses overcome these infrastructure challenges by giving them access to our logistics platform,” said Kumar, adding that Jumia is “delighted and humbled by the opportunity to partner up with UPS, a global logistics leader, to offer them last mile solutions in Africa.”.
Sounding equally upbeat about the prospects of the joint venture, Gregory Goba-Ble, UPS’ Vice President of Engineering and Operations for the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa, said that this cooperation will benefit small and medium-sized African businesses, which represent 90% of the continent’s business landscape.
As Jumia’s logistics network includes more than 1,300 drop-off and pick-up stations in 11 African countries, Goba-Ble stressed that the partnership will allow businesses to easily and reliably connect to new clients throughout the world via Jumia’s global network.
Read also: E-Commerce in Morocco Flourishes Beyond the Pandemic
