For manufacturers and exporters
You make great products.Buyers outside your city do not know you exist.
Merkato gives African manufacturers a verified profile, live access to buyer RFQs, and a payment system that protects both sides. If you produce goods and want to sell across African borders, this is your entry point.
Apply as a founding supplierThe pain
You have built something real. The market does not reflect it.
01
Your buyers are all in the same city.
You sell to the same distributors, the same wholesalers, the same contacts. Your business depends on relationships that took years to build in a radius that took hours to drive. Getting to buyers in another country — who would pay more and order more — feels like a different game entirely.
02
International buyers do not trust what they cannot verify.
A buyer in another country cannot walk your facility. They cannot check your NAFDAC number manually. They cannot call your previous clients without a warm introduction. So they go to Asian manufacturers who have certifications displayed, references ready, and a platform to show it all. You have the same quality. You do not have the same visibility.
03
Getting paid across borders is painful.
Cross-border payments route through foreign correspondent banks and cost 8 to 12% in fees. Buyers ask for credit. You cannot afford to give credit to someone you have never met. So deals fall apart before they begin.
04
No platform was built for you.
Existing B2B platforms serve retail distribution or last-mile logistics. None of them serve a verified African manufacturer trying to reach a verified buyer in another African country with a $20,000 order. That segment did not exist anywhere. Until now.
The dream
What your business looks like when the right buyers find you.
01
Buyers come to you.
Be listed on a verified marketplace where buyers are actively posting sourcing requests. They describe what they need. You respond. The conversation starts with a buyer who already wants what you make.
02
Your credibility travels ahead of you.
Your government registration, product certifications, buyer references, and video verification — all confirmed and displayed on your profile. When a buyer in Kenya or Senegal sees your listing, they already know you are real.
03
You get paid. Every time.
USD escrow means your payment is secured before the goods ship. Once the buyer confirms delivery, funds are released to you. No chasing payments. No 60-day credit terms you cannot afford. No risk of the buyer disappearing after you dispatch.
04
Your reputation compounds.
Every verified transaction adds to your history on the platform. A track record that belongs to you, not to a WhatsApp contact who could block you tomorrow.
How Merkato solves it
This is what Merkato gives you.
01
A verified listing that signals trust
Your listing shows your business registration, certifications, existing buyer references, and verified status. Buyers know you have been checked. That alone removes the first and biggest objection.
02
Live access to buyer RFQs
Buyers post sourcing requests on the platform. As a verified supplier, you see requests in your category and respond directly. You are not waiting for someone to find you.
03
USD escrow payments
All transactions go through Merkato's escrow. Your payment is secured before goods ship and released when the buyer confirms delivery. Confidently sell to a buyer you have never met.
04
Structured dispute resolution
If a dispute arises — goods delayed, quality questions, delivery issues — a structured 5-step process with binding decisions handles it. You are not alone navigating a disagreement with a buyer in another country.
05
A profile that works even when you are not
Your listing is live 24 hours a day. Buyers browse, save, and shortlist suppliers outside your working hours. You are discoverable to buyers across Africa at every moment.
Founding supplier programme
The founding 100. Apply now.
We are building the first cohort of verified suppliers before the marketplace opens. Founding suppliers get permanent free listing and zero commission on every transaction for their first 12 months. Once we reach 100 verified suppliers, the programme closes.
Free
Permanent listing on the platform — no monthly fees ever
$0
Zero commission on all transactions for 12 months
Priority
Featured placement in the directory at launch
First
Among the first suppliers active buyers see when the platform opens
How to apply
Fill out the founding supplier application — it takes about 6 minutes. We review every submission personally and respond within 3–5 business days with the next steps for verification.
Apply as a founding supplierFounding supplier spots close at 100 verified listings.
Verification process
What verification means on Merkato.
The Merkato verified badge is not self-reported. Every supplier completes five checks before their listing goes live.
Step 1 — Business registration confirmed
Your CAC number or equivalent government registration is verified against official databases.
Step 2 — Product certifications reviewed
NAFDAC, ISO, FDA, HACCP, SON, and other active certifications are confirmed valid.
Step 3 — Buyer reference contacted
At least one existing buyer is contacted directly to confirm a real prior trading relationship.
Step 4 — Video verification call
A brief call with the Merkato team confirms identity and that your facility matches the listing.
Step 5 — Ongoing monitoring
Verified status is removed for unresolved disputes or lapsed certifications. The badge stays meaningful.