Bank, payments and policy leaders say the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol creates the rails for seamless, borderless e-commerce—especially for MSMEs.
At a high-level panel at IATF 2025, experts described the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol as “a game changer” that establishes a legal framework to drive and shape the future of digital trading and accelerate intra-Africa commerce. The Protocol is credited with enabling seamless cross-border e-commerce and expanding market access, particularly for MSMEs.
MSMEs and Market Access
The Protocol empowers businesses to reach consumers across all 55 AU Member States without opening physical stores or securing licenses in each country. It also harmonizes digital trade regulations to help enterprises scale and collaborate across borders.
Banks and the “Digital Rails”
Emeka Onyia, Director in charge of Digital Trade at Afreximbank, said: “It is a game changer, and it is very important for my bank to participate in its implementation.” He explained that Afreximbank is embarking on partnerships and views the bank’s digital rail as a means to turn the Protocol into reality: “Our role in the bank is to be the architects and the convener across the continent to provide those rails and to support the governments and partners to establish wonderful infrastructure.” He added that the bank is “setting up innovation hubs and labs… looking into things like digital and alternative currencies.”
Payments Infrastructure
Mike Ogbalu III, CEO of PAPSS, framed AfCFTA as “a silver bullet for the continent’s economic growth,” noting that an efficient payment system is essential for seamless cross-border transactions. He said: “PAPSS is instantly complete and in no more than 120 seconds… we have built a lot of trust in the system by design… we’ve partnered with central banks [and] certified the system to the highest of global standards.”
Inclusion and Lending
Suleymane Diagne, Group Head of Trade Finance at Ecobank, praised the Protocol and highlighted initiatives such as Elevate (supporting women-led businesses) and Ecobank Pay for digital acceptance and data-driven SME lending. He added: “And this is really a step forward from a cash-based system where there’s not always the traceability that we want from a lending perspective.”
Entrepreneurs, Policy Gaps and Data
Algerian entrepreneur Bouras Farah cited limited cross-border payment solutions and inconsistent digital infrastructure, but said: “Today, we have African solution for African problems and for me to promote inclusion for women and youth so they will not be excluded from the FTSE.” She also noted that, “We have a gap in policies for a general African product certification, for digital solution powered by AI, mainly in pharma industry.”
Implementation Imperatives
Michelle Chivunga, CEO of Global Policy House and advisor to regional institutions including the AU and AfCFTA Secretariat, urged domestication of the Protocol: “We need to be able to implement the AfCFTA protocol on Digital Trade. So, we must domesticate that protocol.” She added: “Data is the new game… We must ensure that African countries have data protection and IP laws in place.”
For more stories of intra-African trade, visit our dedicated archives.