According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa e-commerce in Africa is projected to grow by 50 per cent by 2025.

The Acting Executive Secretary, UNECA, Mr Antonio Pedro, at the opening of the 9th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in Niamey, Niger revealed this.

He stated that investing in capacity building would be critical to delivering on the growth of e-commerce in the continent.

“By adopting appropriate standards and emphasising the value of sustainable value chains, we can maximise the job creation potential on our continent,” Pedro said

According to the acting executive secretary, a large-scale infrastructure investment must be accompanied by viable policies and strategies both nationally and regionally, adding that Africa’s accelerated transformation will also be fueled by digital technologies.

He added, “We must end the digital divide, particularly along gender lines, to ensure true inclusion, and to truly unleash the potential of the fourth industrial revolution.”