“E-commerce – an economic tool towards post-COVID-19 recovery and digital business sustainability”

Abstract

E-Commerce is the subject of increased attention from government institutions, international development organisations, entrepreneurs and the public. COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of this issue and the debate has been centred on the power of marketplaces and big tech, whether the growing importance of digital technology in trade is a force for good or a menace to be controlled. With the crisis underway, and the projection of an economic downturn to follow, the attention has now shifted to understanding in what way e-commerce can contribute solutions. Of particular note is the African Continental Free Trade Area, which is scheduled to include negotiations on a Protocol on Digital Trade and E-Commerce. This policy brief draws from the interventions and discussions of the eComConnect virtual conference on “e-commerce – an economic tool towards post-COVID 19 recovery and digital business sustainability”, held June 4, 2020.