Zambia Hosts Inaugural AfCFTA Digital Trade and Services Forum to Drive Africa’s Digital Economy
President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia officially opened the inaugural African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade and Services Forum, a landmark event being held at the Mulungushi Conference Centre and running until May 10, 2025.
The forum, themed “Boosting Digital Trade to Accelerate AfCFTA Implementation,” seeks to position digital trade as a cornerstone for driving intra-African commerce and unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
The historic event brought together high-level dignitaries including President Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana, AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene, African Cabinet Ministers, regional and international partners, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
In his keynote address, President Hichilema emphasized the importance of this forum in ushering in a new era of African solidarity, innovation, and digital transformation. He hailed the partnership between Zambia and the AfCFTA Secretariat as a symbol of the continent’s collective ambition to shift from fragmented markets to a unified digital economy.
“With 54 participating countries, a population of 1.4 billion, and a combined GDP of US $3.4 trillion, Africa now hosts the largest free trade area in the world,” President Hichilema stated. “We can no longer afford to be at the tail end of global prosperity.”
Despite Africa’s wealth in natural resources, the President noted, intra-African trade remains at just 16%, hindered by infrastructure gaps, customs challenges, and policy rigidity. He called for urgent action to dismantle these barriers and invest in digital platforms that allow goods and services to flow seamlessly across borders.
The adoption of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade marks a transformative step toward achieving this vision. However, with over 400 million Africans still offline and internet penetration averaging just 36% in Sub-Saharan Africa, the President urged governments, the private sector, and youth to rally behind a common agenda to develop regional digital value chains.
“Digital trade is the gateway to inclusive growth. Let this forum chart a concrete roadmap that transforms today’s challenges into tomorrow’s shared prosperity,” he urged. “We must trade among ourselves if we are to truly prosper.”
AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene echoed this vision, highlighting the need for practical steps that will operationalize digital trade and unlock investment opportunities across sectors.
As discussions continue, the forum is expected to deliver actionable outcomes including frameworks for public-private collaboration, policy harmonization, and capacity-building for digital trade.
This inaugural event sets the stage for a digitally connected Africa that is competitive, inclusive, and globally integrated.
