Momentum is building in Mauritius around the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade

The Protocol on Digital Trade aims to advance the AfCFTA’s objectives by establishing harmonised rules, common principles, and standards that facilitate and promote digital trade, fostering sustainable and inclusive socio-economic growth and driving the Continent’s digital evolution.  For Mauritius, implementation of the Digital Trade Protocol represents an opportunity to strengthen its position as a regional digital hub. Read more here.  

International Economics has supported ODI Global in delivering the assessment of Mauritius’ legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for digital trade, benchmarking them against the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.

Smita Bheenick, Senior Trade Specialist at International Economics and Fellow at the Africa Trade Foundation, presented the scope and implications of the Digital Trade protocol to officials from several ministries and to representatives of the Private sector, while Alberto Lemma presented the results from the regulatory and institutional gap assessment. We thank all public and private sector stakeholders for their constructive engagement during the validation workshop, held with the support of the UK High Commission.

Paul Baker, CEO of International Economics and Chairman of the Africa Trade Foundation, highlighted the need to build upon the progress made in model laws around Digital Trade at the level of the Regional Economic Communities. He highlighted the work he is doing with the SADC Secretariat for a harmonized approach to build a regional strategy for data, that will support the benefits derived from the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.

Learn more about International Economics’ work on E-Commerce and Digital Trade here.