Kenya's government believes the anticipated launch of Postal Cargo Services by the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) and the impending National Address System (NAS) will stimulate growth of the country's e-commerce industry.

Officials confirmed this in a statement read on behalf of Jerome Ochieng, principal secretary at the ICT Ministry, at the launch of local e-commerce and distribution company Copia Kenya.

Ochieng said, "Postal Corporation of Kenya are launching the postal cargo service. This service will focus on clearing and forwarding; ease the imports and exports of goods and services. I urge companies, including Copia Kenya, to give PCK an opportunity to clear their goods."

The PCK has enlisted entities such as Central Bank of Kenya, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and National Oil Corporation in clearing their goods.

The long-awaited NAS, developed by the Communications Authority and ICT Ministry, will provide every citizen with a resident code and thereby help to solve the ongoing customer location challenge faced by e-commerce companies.

The Ministry has not yet released its roll out plan for the system.

Tim Steel, CEO at Copia Kenya, said, "We have to get the number of the recipient of the goods.We then send our agents who track where they live."

Ochieng added, "Infrastructure plays a critical role in enabling e-commerce. The ministry of ICT and CAK and stakeholders are committed to deliver National Address System whose benefits are many. Under the Continental Free Trade Area, e-commerce will be the engine to push trade between countries."

Copia Kenya has over 3,700 rural agents who support the supply of goods ordered by 300,000 customers via the company's e-commerce website.