Can Africa’s mobile digital traders remove barriers blocking a potential US$180bn market?
Africa
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02 Mar 2022
Education, creative industries and healthcare are just examples of some of the service-based sectors that are reaping the rewards from digital-oriented trade.
Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa are said to be leading Africa’s quest to establish mobile-driven economies anchored with progressive mobile commerce, according to a new white paper titled “Towards A Flourishing Digital Economy for All – A Spotlight On Africa”.
The White Paper, commissioned by the UK’s Department for International Trade and conducted by GSMA’s Mobile World Live team of analysts, was introduced this week at the Mobile World Congress 2022.
The report examines how the mobile industry and its partners are working to open up a US$180-billion market opportunity by 2025.
It also explores the progress made in building Africa’s mobile driven digital economy and examines how a growing cohort of dynamic businesses are adapting their services to address the specific challenges of the African mobile commerce market, including unbanked customers, the lack of reliable identity credentials and last mile delivery issues.
A panel, which included senior executives from Vodacom, SafariCom, Smart Africa and the World Bank, delved into additional obstacles to growth, which they said included digital infrastructure, mobile connectivity and internet access, mobile money, social and digital inclusion, and mobile commerce.
However, the DIT and GSMA are strong in their belief that Africa’s innovative and dynamic tech community of entrepreneurs can address these barriers and are confident that the private and public sectors can work together to find solutions that will see the continent become a flourishing hub for digital trade.
Speaking at the launch event in Barcelona, Dr Mike Short, Chief Scientific Adviser, DIT, UK, said “Our report triggers a much-needed discussion on how to advance the mobile commerce revolution in Africa, which will in the long-term lead to mutually beneficial digital trade between the continent and its trading partners, including the UK”.
The UK Government and GSMA are long-term partners and created the Mobile for Development initiative to drive innovation in digital technology across Africa and improve connectivity/inclusion for the underserved.