Digital trade regulatory integration: country profile the Zimbabwe

Abstract

This country profile presents the key findings for Zimbabwe. The advent of the internet and digital technology has changed the way that goods and services are traded worldwide. Recent years have witnessed an accelerated shift from traditional paper-based trade to online platforms. Discussions around trade facilitation at the World Trade Organization have also focused on how transactions for trade in goods and services are conducted. While Africa has low internet penetration and high broadband costs, it has not been left totally behind in the digital revolution. Most Internet penetration in Africa has come through the mobile phone, which is the case in Zimbabwe. Indeed, because of economic challenges, Zimbabwe’s economy has been virtually cashless for a decade and a half, with most transactions taking place via mobile phones. Mobile internet penetration has created a platform for digital trade, but as depicted in this study, digital trade regulation remains patchy and inadequate. Non-contact commerce has increased further during the Covid-19 pandemic.