ECA launches digital trade capacity-building initiative for African SMEs
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa has initiated a training program to enhance digital trade capabilities among government officials and private sector participants across the continent, with particular emphasis on women-led small and medium businesses. Japan provides financial backing for the effort, which partners with TradeMark Africa and Google to support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Protocol on Digital Trade, covering 1.4 billion people and nearly $3 trillion in combined economic output.
Addis Ababa will host hybrid sessions featuring peer exchange and best practice discussions designed to address persistent infrastructure gaps, regulatory challenges and financing barriers that limit digital inclusion for female entrepreneurs. The Economic Commission for Africa identified strengthening technical capacity among small enterprises as essential to advancing equitable participation in regional commerce, with selected participants chosen based on readiness to adopt digital market expansion tools.
The commission plans to extend support through future online learning resources on its platforms, establishing sustained development pathways for continental digital trade ecosystems.
