by Ronald Njoroge
NAIROBI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN specialized agency for the postal sector will assist Africa to set up a continent-wide e-commerce platform to expand the region's enterprises.
Director General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Bishar Hussein told a regional telecommunication forum in Nairobi that the platform dubbed Ecom@Africa will unlock the potential of African business globally.
"It will also place the post as the logical backbone infrastructure, and a vital vehicle for social, economic, financial and digital inclusion," Hussein said.
"We have also noted that Africa is lagging behind in e-commerce business facilitation globally and so the platform will provide an opportunity for the continent to join the rest of the world in the fast-growing trade," Hussein said during the official opening ceremony of the 36th ordinary session of Administrative Council of the pan-African postal union.
The UPU has identified several hub countries to kick-start this new concept with the intention of eventually interconnecting them to create a continental-wide postal e-market zone.
The identified hub countries include Kenya, South Africa, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco and Tunisia.
The director general said that although the platform will be used by all business in a country, the primary target is to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs) businesses locally and internationally.
The UPU said it has also developed a standard methodology and rules of engagements with governments that takes into account political, legal and regulatory environments of each country.
According to Hussein, e-commerce is the future for global trade and business and a sure route for the African post to finding relevance as a critical national infrastructure.
