The South African online marketplace Zandaux is eying the entire continent but, its initial expansion efforts are targeted towards an East African nation. 

South African e-commerce platform Zandaux announced its entry into Kenya on Wednesday, marking its first step in a broader expansion across the African continent. The company aims to connect African suppliers with a vast regional market, fostering business development and unlocking growth opportunities.

"Anything that has a market in Kenya will have a market on the entire African continent," remarked Zandaux CEO Franck Obambi Ngatse. "On Zandaux, you can buy something from a factory in Mombasa and have it shipped to Kinshasa. The payment is only released to the seller after the product has arrived, and we have a robust tracking system in place for products from seller to buyer."

This expansion coincides with Zandaux's current pursuit of 3 billion Kenyan shillings ($18.5 million) in funding to fuel its continental operations. Kenya is seen as a strategic gateway to other African markets, capitalizing on its established e-commerce infrastructure and growing consumer base. Statista projects the number of e-commerce users in Africa to reach 520 million by 2024, highlighting the immense potential for platform growth.

"The future is there, but all the actors need to come together. The fintech brings payment solutions, and the governments make sure that the e-commerce is complete perfectly or even drop down some barriers, especially when it comes to input," Obambi Ngatse emphasized.

Adoni Conrad Quenum