Davos, Switzerland, 22 January 2025– The AfCFTA Secretary-General participated in the Friends of the AfCFTA Breakfast event, held on the margins of the World Economic Forum. The event, themed “Turning Digital Trade into a Catalyst for Growth in Africa,” focused on the role of digitalisation in driving economic transformation and fostering intra-African trade.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General provided an update on the progress made in implementing the AfCFTA, highlighting key milestones from 2024, including the conclusion of the Protocol on Digital Trade. He noted that one of the core objectives of the Protocol is to establish a single digital market that promotes inclusion and job creation, particularly for Africa’s youth. He cited projections from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which estimate that Africa’s digital economy could reach USD 720 billion by 2050.

The Secretary-General emphasised the need for the private sector and African businesses to prioritise investments in digital public infrastructure, data centres, and smart devices to support the successful implementation of the Protocol. He underscored that digital technologies are key drivers of economic growth and called on economic actors to leverage the AfCFTA framework to accelerate innovation, digital connectivity, and trade across the continent.