ETHIOPIA – The Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline group in Africa and one of the fastest growing airlines brands globally, has inaugurated a new e-commerce logistics hub in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to meet the surging demands of online shoppers and retailers.
The US$55 million Ethiopian e-commerce facility is located inside the Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics premises.
The newly built facility, which is dedicated to e-commerce, mail and courier logistics services is aimed at bridging logistical gaps and positioning Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as the cross-border e-commerce logistics hub for Africa and beyond.
Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics Alemu Sime said the new e-commerce facility aims to streamline operations and inventory management before goods are dispatched to customers.
“Today’s inauguration marks the unveiling of a model facility, poised to set a standard for the private sector to emulate. This infrastructure is pivotal in simplifying logistics, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency, ultimately elevating logistics performance,” Sime said.
The hub, constructed by China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Cooperation, sprawls over 15,000 square meters and boasts the capacity to manage 150,000 tonnes of goods annually.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ethiopian Airlines Mesfin Tasew said the launch of the “modern e-commerce facility,” after two years of construction, reaffirms the airline’s unwavering dedication to catch up with emerging innovations and technologies and enhance its service delivery.
“It is probably the first of its kind in Africa, and this move by Ethiopian Airlines sets up the e-commerce industry on the continent and follows the global trend,” said Tasew.
Noting that e-commerce has come out to be a driving force shaping the way business operates and consumers interact, Tasew said the new facility will revolutionize the way the airline connects and conducts business and open up new avenues of opportunities.
The CEO said the Ethiopian Airlines has established a strategic partnership not only with Chinese construction companies but also with Chinese technology companies specializing in e-commerce such as Alibaba to make its dream a reality.
“When it comes to operation, we work very closely with Chinese e-commerce companies. We transport e-commerce goods from China to other parts of the world under a strategic agreement with them. Now, we can bring the goods from these companies to Addis Ababa. We sort and re-aggregate the goods here and transport them to other African destinations.”
This e-commerce Logistics Facility is equipped with state-of-the art technology and meticulously implemented systems; as a result, the facility will offer a range of services including consolidation, deconsolidation, sortation, repacking, labeling and more. Customers can now track and trace their shipments effortlessly from anywhere.
The implications of this development extend beyond immediate logistics enhancements, potentially spurring economic growth and digital innovation across Africa. As the continent’s e-commerce sector continues to evolve, the strategic foresight displayed by Ethiopian Airlines could very well catalyze a new era of prosperity for African digital marketplaces.
Ethiopian Cargo currently covers more than 135 destinations around the world with both belly-hold capacity and 68 dedicated freighter services, deploying more than 145 airplanes, including 17 dedicated freighter aircraft.
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