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The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa says e-commerce in Africa is projected to grow by 50 per cent by 2025.
This was disclosed by the Acting Executive Secretary, UNECA, Mr Antonio Pedro, at the opening of the 9th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Niamey, Niger.
He explained that investing in capacity building would be critical to delivering on the growth of e-commerce in the continent.
As such, he said investing in capacity building would be critical to delivering on this promise.
A statement quoted Pedro as saying, “By adopting appropriate standards and emphasising the value of sustainable value chains, we can maximise the job creation potential on our continent.”
According to the acting executive secretary, a large-scale infrastructure investment must be accompanied by viable policies and strategies both nationally and regionally, adding that Africa’s accelerated transformation will also be fueled by digital technologies.
He added, “We must end the digital divide, particularly along gender lines, to ensure true inclusion, and to truly unleash the potential of the fourth industrial revolution.”
Meanwhile, he explained that the 2023 forum on sustainable development would have renewed momentum to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063.
According to him, “We must accelerate, and to do so we need to recognise the obstacles to be overcome. This year we are revisiting the Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, 9, 11 and 17.”
Pedro said the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement is the framework under which Africa could ensure an African-owned transformation.
He added that the forum would have a deeper reflection on how the Africa Regional Collaborative Platform can help accelerate implementation of the SDGs on the continent.
“It will be a moment to discuss how the 28 national AfCFTA strategies that have been completed so far with our support, and under the leadership of the African Union Commission, can be mainstreamed in the work of the UN Country Teams,” he said.
Also speaking, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, encouraged the forum to articulate concrete proposals on SDGs and the Agenda 2063.
She said the implementation of both agenda was to be based on implementation plans that were African-owned and designed at the continental, regional, national, and local levels.
She said, “We need to dramatically upscale financing available for both the SDGs and the Agenda 2063 and these findings needs are also to address climate resilience. We need to go beyond development aid, and this is at the heart of the green recovery action plan.
“Upscaling finance is also to improve domestic resource mobilisation and exploring innovative sources of financing.”
The deputy chairperson also said accelerating implementation of the AfCFTA and addressing Africa’s sustainable industrialisation and economic diversification would be key.
She stressed that resilience must be built into the delivery of the SDGs and the Agenda 2063 and the implementation of both must be with and for the youth.
She said, “The youth should, therefore, be actively engaged in and empowered for the design in the implementation policies, plans and programmes for both agenda.
“In so doing, implementation will leverage the creativity and energy of our young people.”
