The East African Business Council (EABC) and Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, financial inclusion, and efficient logistics services across East Africa.
The deal will focus on increasing market access, improving efficiency and productivity and enhancing customer experiences in the integrated African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“This partnership marks a new chapter in leveraging postal networks and private sector collaboration to unlock the potential of Africa’s growing digital economy as well as facilitating customers meet the market,” said Dr. Sifundo Chief Moyo, Secretary General of PAPU.
Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC urged the EAC Partner States to enhance their efforts in addressing challenges inhabiting the flourishing of both digital trade and e-commence in the region.
“Some of the challenges which need to be addressed include: cybersecurity risks, data protection & privacy concerns, regulatory & compliance issues and infrastructure & connectivity limitations in the region,” Njau said.
The MoU outlines key areas of collaboration, including:
- Joint promotion of cross-border e-commerce and logistics solutions;
- Capacity buildingfor SMEs and postal operators on digital trade and financial inclusion;
- Advocacy to eliminate barriers to digital trade and improve last-mile deliveryinfrastructure;
- Co-organization of forums such as an EAC E-Commerce Stakeholders Roundtables
- Support for the implementation of innovative GovTech and e-commerce platformsto accelerate service delivery.
PAPU and EABC aim to create a more inclusive and dynamic trade environment that empowers small-scale enterprises and strengthens Africa’s competitiveness in global markets.
Embracing digital trade and e-commerce in the EAC region is likely to make EAC businesses the frontrunners of the benefits presented by the AfCFTA, which is a market of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of over $3.4 trillion.