The deal represents a significant step for the African e-commerce platform as it pushes beyond its established markets across sub-Saharan Africa into Asia’s fast-growing digital economy.
Bikroy, regarded as one of the largest general classifieds platforms in Bangladesh, will continue operating under its existing brand while retaining its local workforce.
However, the platform is expected to gradually migrate to Jiji’s technology infrastructure, including its proprietary marketplace system, performance-based monetisation model and commercial operating framework.
Jiji currently operates in nine African countries and has built its business around online classifieds and marketplace services tailored to frontier and emerging markets. The company said Bangladesh presents similar characteristics to several African markets where it has achieved strong growth, including a large population, increasing urbanisation and a young digitally connected consumer base.
Chief Executive Officer of Jiji, Anton Volianskyi, said the expansion reflects the company’s confidence that its marketplace model can scale successfully in complex emerging economies.
According to him, the company’s experience in building category-leading platforms in challenging markets gives it a strong foundation for entering Bangladesh and creating long-term value.
The acquisition was sourced from Saltside Technologies, the Swedish digital marketplace company that previously sold Ghana-based Tonaton to Jiji in 2022.
Before completing the transaction, Jiji reportedly tested market demand in Bangladesh by launching its own pilot platform, a strategy it has used previously during expansion into African countries.
The company said its long-term goal extends beyond classifieds, with plans to evolve into a broader e-commerce ecosystem serving frontier and emerging markets. Its ambition has been compared to that of Mercado Libre, the major digital commerce platform in Latin America.
Co-founder and board chairman, Volodymyr Mnoholetnii, said the company’s strategy is built on consolidating difficult markets that require deep local understanding, patient capital and strong operational execution.
Jiji added that it remains open to further acquisitions in markets with strong demographic growth, underdeveloped digital commerce systems and the potential for a dominant marketplace player.
The company noted that all its acquisitions to date have been funded through internally generated cash flow rather than external financing.
