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DHL Express, the international courier, parcel and express mail division of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has launched a new shopping app. The new app, called, DHL Africa eShop, is aimed at improving the online shopping experience of African shoppers and ultimately, accelerating the growth of e-commerce in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

The new platform will allow online shoppers in Africa to directly order goods from over 200 e-commerce stores in the United States and the United Kingdom and have their shipments delivered by DHL to their doorstep.

DHL, in a statement released on Thursday, said the app will be available first in 11 African markets, namely, Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal Sierra Leone, South Africa and Uganda. DHL Africa eShop was developed in partnership with Link Commerce, a division of Mall for Africa.

“DHL Africa eShop provides convenience, speed and access for online customers in Africa,” said Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express SSA. “As the global leader in express logistics, we are well-positioned to connect African consumers with exciting global brands.”

Despite African online shoppers’ appetite for foreign brands, most US and UK-based retailers do not ship to African countries due to logistical challenges, including high last-mile delivery cost and fraud. DHL Express, however, launched operations in Africa as the first express delivery operator on the continent, 40 years ago. And it has continued to offer innovative and reliable delivery solutions for Africans.

According to a report by McKinsey Global Institute, the demand for world-class online shopping opportunities is growing exponentially in Africa, as a result of urbanisation and an increase in incomes. Heymans said, “This is another opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the growth of e-commerce in Africa. We are proud to provide this platform to further connect African consumers with global opportunities.”