Trade Facilitation Report - Driving African Trade Through Digitalisation

Recognizing trade facilitation as a critical element for improving Africa’s trading environment, the Trade Facilitation Report addresses the priorities, lessons, risks and opportunities associated with trade facilitation in Africa. It seeks to outline ideas, opportunities, principles and priorities that should guide governmental actions and continental reforms in TF. The primary message is clear: investing in trade facilitation yields substantial long-term benefits in growth for both the private sector and consumers, and advances in digital technology mean that this area is now particularly fertile to drive gains. This document presents evidence of these benefits and lessons learned from various interventions across Africa, particularly from the impact of digitalization in reducing the time and cost of trade for countries. It also highlights the disparities in policy frameworks and digital infrastructure, which, if effectively addressed, will further stimulate opportunities for intra-African trade. Lastly, it outlines risks that states should be wary of while accelerating digitalization for trade