[ad_1]
Addis Ababa, May 15, 2020 (ECA) – Imagine using one second to sell three thousand (3,000) bags of a coffee product that have so far been fallow in warehouses in Rwanda for months due to loading stops caused by the global blockade of COVID-19.
This is what happened on May 14, 2020 during a live broadcast coordinated by the Alibaba Business Group to position small-scale global brands on the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), a six-year initiative that makes business easier for the consumer. (B2C) sales.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is helping to bring unique African products and their promoters to the platform in a practical COVID-19 response movement.
The sale was made by the Rwandan brand known as Gorilla’s Coffee, whose CEO, Mr. David Ngarabe, rejoiced at the feat after months of sluggish business when COVID-19 blockages broke supply chains, especially in cafes. and hotels.
Charging is explained in terms of the wide reach for customers, especially in China, via eWTP, whose huge demand, in terms of economies of scale, would now lower overall freight costs for supplies.
Ms Vera Songwe, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), who addressed the participants of the live broadcast of Addis Ababa, said that the Commission was taking steps to obtain many More small African brands with different products to access the platform and make sales during and after the current health crisis.
‘COVID-19 especially puts world trade at risk. That is why I am very happy to be part of this initiative of the Global Electronic Commerce Platform (eWTP) with the Alibaba business group, ‘he said.
‘Africa, which has already been trading with China, can improve trade at the moment based on a number of goods in which it has a comparative advantage.
‘Rwanda is already marketing its Rwandan chili and coffee. We hope that with eWTP, we can put more products from the continent, in particular, coffee from Ethiopia, shear butter from Mali, white pepper from Cameroon, vanilla from the Comoros Islands and saffron from Madagascar, among others, on the platform. ” he said to his viewers. Senegal peanuts are also on the table for discussion.
Mr. Eric Jing, Director of the Alibaba Group and Executive Chairman of the Ant Group said: “We want to support SMEs around the world to recover from the outbreak, resume production and secure orders in their time of need,” while It gathered support for brands like Gorilla’s from Rwanda Café.
“Through today’s live broadcast, we hope to reopen world trade, starting by helping companies reopen,” he continued.
Accordingly, Ms Vera Songwe of ECA added that ‘at a time when the world is closing, it is particularly important that we continue to trade because that is the only way we can build a prosperous world and a prosperous Africa, along with China.
‘While Africa plans to build and strengthen its trade with itself, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) remains the cornerstone of Africa’s trade relationship with itself and with the world.
“We believe that by opening the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) to more countries on the continent, we can do more together to ensure that no one is left behind from the COVID-19 crisis.”
First proposed by Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma in 2016, the GTP has been recognized by the G20 and launched in China, Malaysia, Belgium, Rwanda, and Ethiopia.
It is a multistakeholder initiative led by the private sector that offers SMEs easier access to new markets through simple and direct regulations.
It also offers training and support in areas such as e-commerce, logistics, financing, cloud computing, and mobile payments.
-ENDS-
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
Email: [email protected]
