CHINESE-headquartered e-commerce and technology giant, the Alibaba Group, is preparing to launch its African operations, and has chosen Durban as its hub, the eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate announced in a statement yesterday.
According to the municipality, the announcement follows a high-level engagement between eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba and Alibaba’s international trade representatives at the company’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China.
The municipality says the discussions focused on positioning Durban as a key gateway for Africa’s participation in global e-commerce and digital trade.
Durban’s strategic location — anchored by a world-class port, growing logistics infrastructure, and the King Shaka International Airport, played a central role in the City’s selection as Alibaba’s African launch hub.
Mayor Xaba said the partnership puts Durban on the global map as Africa’s smart port city — connecting people, products, and innovation to the world.
The collaboration is expected to create significant opportunities for local entrepreneurs, SMMEs, and start-ups, enabling them to access international markets through Alibaba’s online platform, according to the municipality.
In addition to trade access, the partnership will bring training, digital skills development, and entrepreneurship programmes, which all seek to support job creation and economic inclusion.
The municipality says the announcement marks a major milestone for the City’s digital and economic development strategy and that the initiative is part of Durban’s broader internationalisation strategy, which includes strengthening ties with key Chinese cities.
Durban recently signed a Letter of Intent with Xi’an, and maintains established relationships with Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Ningde.
Mayor Xaba added that the engagement aligns with Durban’s vision of becoming a resilient, inclusive, and globally connected port city, capable of driving long-term economic growth and innovation.
