AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum Concludes with Roadmap for Africa’s Digital Future
Africa’s journey toward a unified digital economy gained strong momentum with the successful conclusion of the inaugural AfCFTA Digital Trade and Services Forum held in Lusaka.
Organized under the theme “Boosting Digital Trade to Accelerate AfCFTA Implementation,” the three-day event brought together Heads of State and Government, Ministers, private sector leaders, development partners, and innovators from across the continent.
Hosted by the Republic of Zambia under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, and in collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Forum provided a platform for strategic dialogue focused on implementing the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.
The Protocol is hailed as one of the most forward-thinking legal frameworks in Africa, aimed at laying the foundation for a single African digital market.
Participants at the Forum emphasized the need to strengthen digital infrastructure, harmonize regulations, and invest in capacity-building initiatives that empower youth, women, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These steps are seen as essential to ensuring that digital trade becomes a tool for inclusive economic growth and continental integration.
A major highlight of the Forum was the launch of a Call to Action titled “The Road to Success: Charting the Course for Digital Trade under the AfCFTA.” This blueprint sets out strategic priorities including the promotion of African-owned digital platforms, the advancement of digital skills across member states, and the adoption of inclusive policies that support equitable participation in the digital economy.
In his closing remarks, President Hichilema and other leaders reaffirmed that digital trade is not a vision for the distant future, but a current imperative for Africa.
They emphasized the importance of collaboration among governments, private sector actors, and development partners in building a thriving digital economy that supports innovation, job creation, and regional economic integration.
The Forum concluded with a united commitment to accelerate implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol and to make digital transformation a driving force for Africa’s development in the 21st century.
