WTO, World Bank Hail Nigeria, Five African Countries As Digital Trade Pilot Phase Ends

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

WTO, World Bank Hail Nigeria, Five African Countries As Digital Trade Pilot Phase Ends

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World Bank have applauded Nigeria, alongside five other African nations, for successfully completing the pilot phase of the Digital Trade for Africa project.

The initiative, which began in 2023, seeks to position African economies to benefit more fully from digital trade while narrowing the continent’s digital divide.

The six countries in the pilot phase—Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda—produced digital trade assessments that examined the current state of their regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, and readiness for cross-border e-commerce.

WTO Director-General Johanna Hill described the conclusion of the pilot as a major milestone. She recalled that the programme took shape after a joint WTO–World Bank policy note was presented to African leaders in July 2023, urging governments to establish supportive policies for digital trade.

“The Digital Trade for Africa project has come a long way since we first initiated discussions two years ago,” Hill said. “The pilot reviews demonstrate the potential for Africa to integrate more fully into the digital economy, provided the right reforms are put in place.”

She noted that the February 2024 launch of the pilot phase allowed for in-depth Digital Trade Reviews in the six countries, identifying key policy actions and reform areas. The findings, she added, will feed into ongoing WTO negotiations on e-commerce while guiding national strategies.

Antonia Carzaniga of the WTO outlined the critical areas assessed: digital connectivity, participation of local businesses in digital trade, and the policy frameworks that govern online commerce.

She stressed that connectivity remains the foundation of digital trade, but regulatory certainty and inclusive participation are equally vital.

Martin Molinuevo of the World Bank presented the Bank’s Digital Trade Gap Analysis, which benchmarked African countries’ regulatory practices against global best standards.

He explained that while progress has been made, significant gaps remain in areas such as data protection, cross-border payment systems, and online consumer protection.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, was highlighted as a key player in the initiative. With a booming tech ecosystem and a fast-growing population of internet users, the country is seen as having vast potential to lead digital trade on the continent.

However, the assessment noted the need for stronger regulatory frameworks, improved internet infrastructure in rural areas, and harmonisation of digital policies with regional partners.

Stakeholders believe that unlocking digital trade could boost Nigeria’s exports of services, create millions of jobs, and provide new opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access global markets.

The pilot project also underlines Africa’s collective ambition to integrate into the global digital economy. By identifying gaps and areas for reform, the assessments provide a roadmap for governments to expand e-commerce, reduce trade barriers, and attract investment in digital infrastructure.

Hill emphasised that the success of the pilot phase is not the end but the beginning of a broader process. “What we have achieved is a foundation.

The next phase must focus on implementing reforms and ensuring that digital trade works for development and inclusion across Africa,” she said.

With the pilot phase now concluded, both the WTO and the World Bank pledged to continue supporting the six countries and other African nations in scaling up reforms.

The long-term goal is to build a continent-wide framework that enables African businesses—especially youth-led enterprises and SMEs—to compete effectively in the global digital marketplace.

According to Africaworldnews, as the world becomes increasingly digital, the challenge for Nigeria and its peers will be to move from pilot assessments to concrete reforms that transform their economies, create jobs, and reduce poverty.

For many observers, this initiative could mark a turning point in Africa’s economic integration into the digital era.

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Chioma Ndukwu

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