CACOEC: Building Bridges in E-Commerce Between Africa and China

Technology has impacted every aspect of human life, including the way we conduct businesses. As the e-commerce industry and the digital economy continue to get more attention in the developed nations, developing nations (in Africa) still struggle with its full adoption. Most countries in the region are yet to catch up with the transformation train.

For instance, many African countries do not enjoy reliable data connectivity, and where there is, it is not affordable. This posed a serious challenge. Unless the China-Africa cooperation can influence the provision of affordable and reliable connectivity in Africa, less could be achieved by the latter, especially in the full adoption of digitalization. This should be supported by increasing users’ digital skills through education and digital training.

Another major challenge relates to trade facilitation across borders. Even within African nations, there is yet to be a trade procedure that harmonizes the region, which continues to impact shipment procedures negatively. China could work with the government to help put in place trade facilitation measures that support collaboration among neighboring countries so e-commerce shipments become as streamlined as possible.

China-Africa cooperation needs to translate into the creation of unified payment solutions that are not only easy to use by users but also minimize operating costs for SMEs. This is one of the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). When there is a full integration of a unified payment system, e-commerce transactions across borders will become easier and more cost-efficient.

In the aspect of policies that regulate the digital economy, there is the need for flexibility in the rules that can encourage increased cross-border e-commerce transactions. The international body also needs to lend its voice in discussing disagreements that relate to international trade and taxation.

China-Africa Chamber of E-Commerce (CACOEC) is the premier e-commerce chamber advancing multilateral trade and investment relations between Africa and China. Since its establishment, CACOEC has been building bridges in e-commerce between the People’s Republic of China and the Africa countries.

In the end, CACOEC envisions that China and Africa to mutually benefit from their various exchanges as well as push the friendship towards a better and more secure future where Africa realizes its full potential.