By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
A
senior official at the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat has
outlined key lessons from a recent benchmarking mission to the European
Commission, aimed at strengthening Africa’s digital trade policy framework.
Talkmore
Chidede, Senior Digital Trade Expert at the AfCFTA Secretariat, said the
mission provided insights into how advanced economies have developed regulatory
and institutional frameworks to support digital trade.
According
to Chidede, the European Union’s approach underscores the importance of
harmonised regulations across key areas such as e-commerce, digital payments,
digital identity systems, data protection, cybersecurity, and consumer trust.
He noted that interoperability of digital systems across borders plays a
critical role in reducing trade barriers and accelerating economic activity.
He
also highlighted the significance of strong institutional frameworks and
collaboration among governments, the private sector, and civil society in
building resilient digital ecosystems. The EU model further demonstrates the
value of promoting homegrown solutions and ensuring inclusivity, particularly
for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.
Chidede
emphasised that Africa is at a pivotal stage in its digital trade development,
with the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade providing a legal foundation for the
continent’s digital economy. He indicated that lessons from the EU experience
will support efforts to help African countries develop coherent digital trade
strategies, align national regulations with continental frameworks, and
establish trust mechanisms that encourage investment and innovation.
The
mission also reinforced the need to build interoperable digital systems across
African markets to enable seamless cross-border trade, while ensuring that
policies remain inclusive and create opportunities for youth, women, and small
businesses.
Chidede
noted that the objective is not to replicate European models, but to adapt
relevant best practices to Africa’s unique context in order to harness digital
trade as a driver of sustainable development.
