In a major strategic move aimed at supporting intra-trade and consolidating th supporting logistics infrastructure for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Egytrans Logistics Solutions, a member of the Egytrans NOSCO group and leading integrated platform in transport and supply chain management services, signed a strategic Memorandum of Cooperation with the African E-commerce Platform “eCom Afrika”.
African E-commerce Platform
This alliance focuses on providing integrated, high-efficiency logistics solutions connecting Egyptian exporters with African markets, leveraging the company’s historical presence within the continent, within the framework of a joint direction to support the integration of digital commerce and cross-border logistics infrastructure to serve the growth of Egyptian exports within the African continent.
Studies by regional trade and development institutions indicate that the volume of intra-African trade is witnessing accelerated annual growth driven by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). While SMEs represent more than 80% of economic entities on the continent, they face logistical challenges that raise market access costs by over 30% in some African countries compared to global markets.
Data from East and West African markets also show that demand for cross-border shipping solutions is growing at rates ranging between 12–15% annually, with trade volume concentrated in pivotal markets such as Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Cameroon, as regional distribution gateways connecting production and consumption within the continent.
This cooperation comes as a key strategic pillar for the African E-commerce Platform, combining the digital leadership of the eCom Afrika platform with the deep logistical expertise and extensive continental network enjoyed by Egytrans. The cooperation aims to empower SMEs and overcome logistical obstacles facing them, contributing to improving supply chain efficiency and raising the level of services provided to Egyptian exporters, and enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products in African markets according to the highest standards of speed, quality, and cost, in line with the requirements of this growing market.
In this context, Mr. Mohamed Halaby, Executive Chairman of the African E-commerce Platform “eCom Afrika”, stated: “Our alliance with Egytrans Logistics Solutions translates our strategic vision of building physical and digital bridges connecting the continent’s economies. It is a collaboration that embodies the concept of true African-African partnership, where we integrate our digital strength with a deep-rooted logistical heritage to serve the most dynamic sector in our economy, namely Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. This is not merely a service agreement; it is an investment in building the continental competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and for our partners in Africa.”
For his part, Eng. Ahmed Abdeen, Managing Director and CEO of the African E-commerce Platform “eCom Afrika”, explained the operational details: “This partnership is a fundamental step to build the logistical backbone for our intra-trade in Africa. We realize that cross-border transport and shipping challenges have been a
major obstacle to the growth of trade especially for SMEs. Through our collaboration with Egytrans Logistics Solutions, we provide a logistical lifeline based on an established and reliable African network, enabling our companies to compete with merit and ensure their products arrive with high quality and efficiency.”
Eng. Mohamed Nadim, Managing Director for Commercial Affairs and Operations at Egytrans NOSCO Group, stated: “The importance of this cooperation comes in light of the current structural transformations of African trade witnessed by the continent in trade patterns and supply chains, driven by the AfCFTA agreement and the growth of digital commerce. In response to these transformations, Egytrans is developing its business model to align with the changes through a regional logistics platform that supports larger trading volumes and advanced service levels in African markets.”
Nadim also pointed out that, based on what regional supply chain studies show, consolidating transport, warehousing, and customs clearance operations within an integrated system can reduce transit time by 25–30% and lower total logistics costs by up to 15–20%. These indicators reflect the significant opportunities for companies working in intra-trade when adopting integrated operating models.
In this context, he emphasized enhancing Egytrans‘ position as a strategic partner for Egyptian exporters in Africa through an advanced logistics system based on its existing operational efficiency, risk management, and improving economic returns for intra-trade movement. This step aligns with its expansion strategy, as it continues to develop its current regional platform while adding advanced services such as shipment tracking and improving integration between African markets, contributing to enhancing value-added for clients and consolidating its leadership in the region.
These initiatives confirm Egytrans’ commitment to maximizing the utilization of market opportunities and driving the growth of its investments and business volume to serve intra-trade and support the Egyptian economy on the continental level.
Strategic Cooperation Pillars:
• Providing Integrated “Door-to-Door” Logistics Solutions: Designing comprehensive service packages including international transport (sea and land), warehousing, packing, and customs clearance, leveraging the company’s extensive network to ensure speed and delivery reliability.
• Technological Integration: The partnership seeks to integrate the eCom Afrika digital platform with Egytrans’ smart logistics systems, allowing real-time shipment tracking and ensuring the highest levels of transparency and efficiency for clients.
• Feasibility Studies and Regulatory Support: The partnership relies on Egytrans’ deep expertise in laws and customs regulations in the targeted African markets to facilitate operational processes and ensure legal compliance.
• Empowering SMEs: Allocating flexible competitive offers that suit the needs and capabilities of SMEs, contributing to significantly reducing export costs.
This cooperation aligns with national strategic goals to support Egyptian non-petroleum exports and reflects the Egyptian direction to deepen economic ties with partners in the African continent. The cooperation benefits from the integrated operational capabilities of Egytrans, which provides a reliable regional logistics platform that enables facilitating the movement of intra-trade and enhances operational efficiency to reduce logistics costs, supporting economic growth and enhancing the value of Egyptian investments in African markets.
