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NextFrontier Africa is a media platform spotlighting Africa’s emerging opportunities in technology, tourism, aviation, agriculture, health, logistics, real estate, trade, education, and e-commerce.

January 04.2025

2 Minutes Read

Exploring Africa's Digital Transformation: Insights from AfCFTA's Wamkele Mene

Speaker at digital transformation event in Africa

Unifying Africa Through Digital Trade: A New Milestone

As Africa strides towards an era defined by digital integration, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) digital trade protocol emerges as a pivotal milestone. Recently, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of AfCFTA, discussed this development at the Global DPI Summit in Cairo. Mene emphasized that the protocol is not only a symbol of Africa's commitment to digitalization but also a platform for fostering a cohesive digital ecosystem that spans across the continent.

Breaking Barriers in Digital Negotiations

The journey to the protocol's establishment was fraught with obstacles, particularly regarding data movement and regional consensus. Each participating nation had its nuances and challenges, such as differing preferences for payment systems. However, through persistent negotiations, these challenges were successfully overcome, with 48 countries now onboard. This triumph underscores a shared ambition among African nations to achieve digital unity, underscored by political collaboration and strategic compromise.

Implementation: From Policy to Practice

Mene highlighted that, while the agreement marks progress, the real test lies in its effective implementation. This requires strategic efforts in capacity-building and robust advocacy to ensure that the protocol translates into tangible benefits. Capacity-building will ensure that organizations—from government bodies to private enterprises—are equipped to leverage the protocol's opportunities for continent-wide impact. AfCFTA is poised to collaborate with international partners to bring this vision to fruition.

An Inclusive Vision for Financial and Digital Growth

Beyond the technicalities, the digital trade protocol aims to drive widespread financial and digital inclusion across Africa, enabling more individuals to partake in the digital economy. Its successful implementation is anticipated to spur economic growth and facilitate poverty reduction, with the private sector playing a crucial role in expanding digital public infrastructure (DPI). This cooperation exemplifies the protocol's broader objective: sustaining inclusive growth across Africa's diverse digital landscape.

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Exploring Africa's Digital Transformation: Insights from AfCFTA's Wamkele Mene

Unifying Africa Through Digital Trade: A New Milestone

Breaking Barriers in Digital Negotiations

Implementation: From Policy to Practice

An Inclusive Vision for Financial and Digital Growth

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