Lusaka, Zambia, 10 May 2025-The AfCFTA Digital Trade Forum 2025 has come to a successful close in Lusaka, Zambia, after four days of high-level dialogue, technical sessions, and stakeholder engagement focused on operationalising the Protocol on Digital Trade. Convened under the theme “Boosting Digital Trade to Accelerate AfCFTA Implementation,” the Forum brought together government officials, regulators, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth entrepreneurs from across the continent.
Hosted by the AfCFTA Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the Forum provided a platform to unpack the Annexes to the Protocol on Digital Trade and explore implementation pathways at the national and regional levels. Discussions addressed critical issues such as cross-border data flows, digital payments, e-commerce regulation, cybersecurity, and digital entrepreneurship.
The closing sessions reflected a shared urgency among State Parties and stakeholders to move from negotiation to execution. Key highlights included:
- Reaffirmation of political and institutional commitment to domesticate and operationalise the Protocol on Digital Trade.
- Presentation of country experiences and digital readiness assessments, enabling peer learning and benchmarking.
- Concrete proposals for capacity-building partnerships, including support for SMEs, digital literacy, and women- and youth-led enterprises.
- Emphasis on the role of interoperable digital systems, inclusive governance frameworks, and harmonised regulations in building a trusted continental digital market.
Participants commended the AfCFTA Secretariat for its leadership in convening the Forum and reiterated the importance of sustained collaboration with Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and technical institutions to drive implementation forward.
With the Protocol on Digital Trade now fully adopted, the Forum’s outcomes will inform the next phase of national and continental digital integration under the AfCFTA. The Secretariat underscored its commitment to supporting State Parties in building the policy, legal, and institutional infrastructure required to deliver an inclusive and competitive digital single market.
