Amazon.com Inc, the world’s biggest online retailer, an American multinational conglomerate that focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence has opened a logistics facility in Egypt on Tuesday
It is one of the Big Five companies in the U.S. information technology industry, along with Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Telecommunications Minister Amr Talaat, and Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea.
Vice President of Amazon MENA, Ronaldo Mouchawar said 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
Mouchawar further said, according to a Cabinet statement, this will be in line with Amazon’s plans to cater to Egypt’s internet-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
The facility which is located on the 10th of Ramadan city in Sharqia governorate in Lower Egypt aims to provide 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.