E-Commerce and Digital Trade in Africa

The rapid adoption of digital technologies and the proliferation of the e-commerce platforms have helped overcome the challenges associated with the participation in international trade by developing countries. To make the case for Africa, this chapter explores the requisite landscape of e-commerce and digital trade by considering the regulatory and infrastructural environment. The study reveals the evolution and trends of e-commerce and digital technologies, shows the extent to which the use of these technologies can foster a country’s participation in international trade and development, and provides lessons for policy implication, particularly the strategies for achieving effective and efficient digitalization of international trade in Africa.