Wildberries-Russ launches sales of products from Ethiopia

MOSCOW. April 8 (Interfax) - The merged company Wildberries & Russ (RWB LLC) has launched sales of goods from Ethiopia to Russia, Wildberries founder and RWB CEO Tatyana Kim said at the KIT-2026 conference.

Coffee, textiles, leather goods and accessories, cosmetics, and home decor will be available for purchase on the marketplace at the first phase.

RWB's press service told Interfax that delivery to the end user in Russia takes approximately two weeks, depending on the product.

Wildberries is also currently developing a logistics facility to circulate goods between the countries, including through partnerships with Ethiopost, Ethiopia's postal service.

Russian sellers will be able to sell their products on the Ethiopian market at the second phase scheduled for implementation this year.

RWB in November signed a partnership agreement with Ethiopian Investment Holdings, Ethiopia's largest investment holding company and the Ethiopian government's sovereign wealth fund and strategic investment vehicle. One of the stated goals was to enter the Ethiopian and other African markets.

The agreement reportedly envisages joint efforts to localize RWB products for the Ethiopian market, as well as partnership and support through investment and technology initiatives to promote the development of e-commerce and facilities in the region.

Ethiopia will be the 11th country where the marketplace operates. Wildberries currently operates in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, in addition to Russia, and partners with vendors in China and the United Arab Emirates.