United Kingdom (UK) based online shopping platform Wivela will launch in Africa in September, with the company saying the continent presents a new set of opportunities for all businesses.
In an interview with HumanIPO, Donald Hagbe, chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of Wivela Holdings said the challenge and the opportunity involved in expanding to Africa, as well as the desire to bring new and innovative solutions to the world, prompted the plan for Wivela’s African launch.
Hagbe said the availability of so many sectors with unimagined potential is another reason for branching out to Africa.
“The scramble for the African customer is starting and Wivela Holdings want to be one of the first to have a sit at the table,” said Hagbe, adding that the company will be use countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Sudan, Uganda, and Mauritius as inroads into the continent.
Hagbe said Africa’s fast-growing economies, quickly expanding middle class and young population means there is extensive purchasing power on the continent, translating to business interest from Wivela.
“After after experiencing a significant improvement in the quality of living and in terms of urbanization giving the rise to mega cities as Lagos and Johannesburg, the increase in spending power of the middle class make Africa a fertile ground for business,” Hagbe said.
The CEO said that in his opinion, Africa is an “exciting and happening space” where many business ecosystems still remain to be built, adding that progress made to date has given African economies an “inherent momentum”.
“Governments across the continent are placing increasing stress on forging attractive business environments to attract investments. We see growing global linkages in Africa and we are well placed to leverage the emerging opportunities to mutual benefit,” said Hagbe.
On entering African markets, Wivela plans to partner with local startups to list their products ranging from groceries, books and fashion items to consumer electronics and even industrial goods.
While some products will available to purchase worldwide, others will be made available globally at a later stage.
“Our product offering differs per country, but it’s our plan to make sure that everything is to be purchased everywhere. This is an essential component of our plans. Bringing local products to the global market and global products yet unfamiliar and unknown to local markets to the local market,” said Hagbe.
