The African Economic Commission (AEC) Trains Three Southern African Countries on E-Commerce within the AfCFTA Framework.

A Capacity-Building Workshop on E-Commerce

The AEC organized a training workshop for Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, with financial support from the Italian government. This initiative aims to strengthen the skills of public and private sector actors in these countries to fully harness the potential of digital trade.

A lever for Operationalizing the AfCFTA

This training is part of the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to create a single African market valued at approximately 3.4 trillion USD. The AfCFTA provides a platform to rethink African value chains and facilitate intra-African trade.

A Pivotal Moment for Africa

Lillian Bwalya, Permanent Secretary of the Zambian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that this workshop comes at a crucial time for the continent, marking an important milestone in the development of e-commerce and regional economic integration.

Collaboration between African Institutions

The initiative is jointly led by the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) and the Southern Africa Regional Office (SROSA) of the AEC. This collaboration aims to provide practical tools to support countries in the digital transformation of their trade sectors.

Perspectives and Challenges

The training helps prepare Southern African countries to seize the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA, particularly by facilitating digital trade exchanges, strengthening institutional capacities, and boosting private sector participation. This approach aligns with the continent’s broader dynamics of economic integration and sustainable development.