Marrakech (Morocco), March 23, 2019 – A side event themed, Digital Trade in Africa: Implications for Inclusion and Industrialisation took place this Saturday in Marrakech, Morocco. The event had four panellists from the World Trade Organization, African Export Import Bank, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the Digital Economy of Morocco in the presence of representatives from Ministries of Finance, Economic Planning and Industry, civil society, women's and youth groups, the private sector, development partners and international organisations.
The discussions focussed on how digital transformation can serve as a tool for inclusive trade-led industrialisation. In addition, issues related to the digital economy, industrialisation and intra-African trade, as well as diversification and major opportunities and challenges associated with digital commerce for African countries.
The Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Mr Yonov Frederick Agah said, “Digital trade is now a reality in Africa. For Africa, this is an opportunity because it changes the way we do business and trade”. He, however, indicated that there are three challenges that Africa needs to address:” the need to look at national policies, basic infrastructures and policy harmonization and policy cooperation”.
For her part, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regional representative to the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa Ms. Nwanne Vwede-Obahor addressed inclusion issues and stressed the need for policies that allow people to access the digital economy.
The Chief Economist of the African Export Import Bank, Mr Hyppolite Fofack noted that “to be well done, digital trade must be accompanied by cross-border payments”.
The fourth panellist, the Director for international affairs of the Ministry of industry, trade and the digital economy of Morocco, Ms Latifa Boubdellaoui noted that resources derived from e-commerce if harnessed, can contribute to the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. But to succeed, harmonization of policies is needed. “We cannot move to the digital economy without going through industrialization”, said Ms Boubdellaoui.
The side event discussions were underpinned by key coalesce around the transformational force of the digital revolution as seen in the business environment, in production and in trade. Participants agreed that the digital revolution offers the African continent an opportunity to industrialise and catch up with the rest of the world.
The discussions were moderated by the Director of the African Trade Policy Centre of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Mr David Luke.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org