Reported by: The Agency Media.
Date: 9th April, 2025.
Lusaka, Zambia.
In a decisive move to position Zambia as a leading force in Africa’s rapidly advancing digital economy, Honourable Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, through the representation of Mr. Crucivia Hachikumba, Permanent Secretary for Investment and Industrialization, delivered an inspiring and strategic address to senior government officials, private sector leaders, and industry stakeholders at a high-level Stakeholders’ Breakfast Meeting held today at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka.
This important assembly served as a critical precursor to Zambia’s engagement in the inaugural African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Forum, slated for 8th to 10th May 2025. The forum represents a pivotal milestone on the continent’s economic agenda, designed to fast-track the implementation of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol — a transformative framework unveiled in February 2024 with the goal of integrating Africa’s fragmented digital trade ecosystem.
The Digital Trade Protocol aims to streamline and harmonise digital regulations across member states, strengthen cross-border e-commerce infrastructure, and broaden market access for businesses across the continent, with particular emphasis on empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). By dismantling barriers to digital commerce, the protocol is set to unlock unprecedented opportunities for African entrepreneurs and catalyse inclusive economic growth.
Delivering the Minister’s remarks, Mr. Hachikumba underscored the significance of the upcoming forum, characterising it as an instrumental platform to shape the future of Africa’s digital landscape.
“This forum is far more than a conventional gathering of policymakers and business leaders; it stands as a bold testament to our shared ambition to establish a seamless, borderless digital trade environment across Africa,” he affirmed.
Minister Mulenga further highlighted that Zambia, in particular, stands to benefit immensely from this continental momentum. By embedding digital technologies into its trade systems, Zambia can enhance supply chain efficiency, unlock new international markets, and fuel innovation-driven growth. He pointed to Zambia’s recently unveiled E-Commerce Strategy as a crucial complement to the AfCFTA Protocol, providing a well-defined roadmap to fast-track the nation’s digital trade aspirations.
Reinforcing the urgency of these initiatives, Minister Mulenga cited compelling research by the International Finance Corporation and Google, which forecasts Africa’s digital economy contributing up to USD 180 billion — around 5.2% of the continent’s GDP — by 2025. Projections extend even further, with the sector expected to reach an impressive USD 712 billion, or 8.5% of GDP, by 2050.
The Minister called for robust collaboration between public and private sectors to capitalise on these prospects, urging stakeholders to develop concrete, inclusive strategies that empower Zambian businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital global marketplace.
“Our discussions today must yield a clear, actionable roadmap — one that uplifts our entrepreneurs and firmly positions Zambia as a central player in Africa’s digital economy,” he stressed.
“Through genuine partnership and shared purpose, we can cultivate a dynamic, inclusive digital ecosystem that drives sustainable national and continental prosperity.”
He concluded with a call to action, expressing confidence that the insights generated from the meeting would translate into tangible policies and initiatives to drive Zambia’s digital transformation.
“This is a defining chapter in our nation’s economic journey. Let us seize this moment with conviction, and work collectively to make digital trade a cornerstone of Zambia’s prosperity,” he declared.
The Stakeholders’ Breakfast Meeting thus marks not only the beginning of Zambia’s preparations for the AfCFTA Digital Forum but also a decisive step towards shaping a digitally empowered future for the nation and the African continent at large.
The Agency.