Africa’s digital trade regulatory framework: unlocking Africa’s Digital Potential

Abstract

Africa has some of the most rapidly growing markets and greatest entrepreneurial energy in the global economy. With the right policy frameworks - that focus on harmonized trade rules, data protection, cybersecurity, cloud computing and taxation - they can become ideal launching pads for future innovation. Over the past decades, the global spread of new technologies has helped lift over one billion people out of extreme poverty. The regulatory landscape across various policy areas needed to enable digital trade in Africa can be made more robust with a range of policy considerations along the following lines: Tariffs and taxes; Commit to open digital trade; Promote free flow and innovative uses of data; Enforce digital trade rules and secure systems ; Encourage movement to the cloud; Encourage entrepreneurship and start-ups; Competition.