Africa’s e-commerce sector to grow by 50% in just 2 years – UN

By Chinedu Okafor

According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), by 2025, e-commerce in Africa is expected to increase by According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, by 2025, e-commerce in Africa is expected to increase by 50 percent.

Acting Executive Secretary of the UNECA, Antonio Pedro made this projection known in Niamey, Niger, at the beginning of the 9th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.

The expansion of e-commerce across the continent, he said, will depend on investments made in capacity building. As a result, he stated that making an investment in capacity building will be essential to fulfilling this pledge.

“By adopting appropriate standards and emphasizing the value of sustainable value chains, we can maximize the job creation potential on our continent,” the executive secretary said.

“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,” he added.

According to Pedro, the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement provides the basis for ensuring that the change is led by Africans.