When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...
Category: E-Commerce
WEEK IN REVIEW: Xi Jinping Reaffirms Support for Maduro
The Pentagon has reportedly flagged the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba, the electric vehicle leader BYD, and the search engine provider Baidu for inclusion on a list of companies that assist the Chinese military. The decision was reportedly made before the recent talks between Presidents Xi and Trump. It’s ...
China-Linked Platforms Gain Ground in Southeast Asia, With Vietnam Leading the Next Phase of Growth
Chinese e-commerce companies are solidifying their dominance of Southeast Asia's rapidly expanding online shopping market, accounting for as much as half of business-to-consumer e-commerce, according to a new study by the consulting firm Bain. While Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines ...
New China-Africa Air Cargo Route From Hainan to Kenya, South Africa
The Kenyan cargo airline Astral Aviation launched new direct service between the southern Chinese island province of Hainan and Africa, with service to both Nairobi and Johannesburg. The first flight took off late last week, ferrying 48 tons of Chinese electronics and e-commerce goods. ...
Indonesia Lifts TikTok License Suspension as App Shares Data
Indonesia lifted its suspension of TikTok's local operating license after the social media platform shared data requested by the government about recent protests, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said. Indonesia has the second-largest audience on TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, ...
Trump Tariffs Boosting Nigerian E-Commerce Giant
The CEO of the Nigerian e-commerce company Jumia says the Trump administration’s tariffs are easing its access to Chinese manufacturers. Francis Dufay told Bloomberg that trade barriers in the U.S. are forcing Chinese suppliers to find other markets, which benefits Nigerian consumers. This is strengthening Jumia’s hand ...
China’s Delivery Titans Export Their Ugliest Rivalry to Brazil
Two of China’s biggest delivery giants are exporting not just their business models but also their worst habits. In Brazil, Didi’s 99Food and Meituan’s Keeta have turned a promising overseas expansion into a spectacle of lawsuits, exclusivity deals, and copycat branding so absurd that instead of toppling ...
Behind the Abaya: Chinese E-Commerce Eyes Persian Gulf’s Hidden ‘Her’ Economy
Narratives surrounding “veiled luxury” beneath the black abayas are electrifying Chinese e-commerce players. Frustrated by the U.S. markets due to the tariff, Chinese e-commerce players are turning to the Middle East's untapped “Her” economy. Viral ...
TikTok to Invest $8.8 Billion in Thailand Over Five Years
TikTok plans to invest $8.8 billion in Thailand over the next five years, focusing on digital infrastructure, workforce development and online safety initiatives, a senior executive said Friday after talks with the government. The social media platform owned by China's ByteDance ...
China and Indonesia Are Linking QR Payments, and It’s Bigger Than You Think
China and Indonesia are launching a partnership to connect their QR code payment systems, shaking up the way cross-border payments work. China’s UnionPay International and Indonesia’s Payment System Association (ASPI) have teamed up to bring their QR code payment ...
Nigerian Shoppers Succomb to Massive Temu Marketing Blitz
Chinese online retailer Temu is now the most downloaded app on both the Android and Apple stores in Nigeria thanks to a massive marketing campaign that has blanketed the West African country with promotions for low-cost products imported directly from China.
Chinese Shopping App Temu Suspended in Vietnam: State Media
Chinese shopping app Temu has been forced to suspend its services in Vietnam after it failed to register with authorities, state media said on Thursday. Goods ordered on Temu were no longer being cleared through customs in Vietnam, state media reported, ...
Buy Now, Pay Later: Latin America Pressured by Chinese Online Shops
By Paulina Abramovich Isidora Olave opens a package containing a T-shirt, a skirt, and a handful of glitter stickers shipped to her front door in Santiago, Chile, all the way from China, almost 20,000 kilometers away.