By: Tiyanjane Nandie Mambucha

Lilongwe, October 16, Mana: In preparation for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol, the Ministry of Trade and Industry through Digital Financial Inclusion Competitiveness (DFIC) project is sensitizing the academia, business community and the Media on Digital Protocol and Trade.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday in Lilongwe, Director of ICT at Ministry of Trade, Patrick Machika, said there are enormous opportunities for Malawians in terms of market, as the Protocol seeks to boost intra- African trade and Integration through digital trade transactions. 

“What this means is that we now have markets beyond Malawi and can now reach all the 53 countries that makes Africa. This also offers consumers an opportunity to choose from a wider market.

“Through the awareness being conducted, we are also soliciting views, so that issues Malawians feel should be taken on board, can be gathered. We are negotiating relevant issues, mainly emphasizing on cyber security,” said Machika.

In her remarks one of the ESAMI-trapca facilitators, Dr. Chengetai Mangunje, said the course aims to sensitize the target group on the key concepts in digital trade, particularly those arising from AfCFTA, Digital Trade Protocol and their potential opportunities for Malawi.

“We are also assessing the substantial issues regarding the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol that are critical to Malawi and analyzing areas under Malawi’s regulatory framework that can be utilized,” said Dr. Mangunje.

According to DFIC Project Coordinator, Golden Nyasulu, the sensitizations are being conducted with financial assistance from DFIC project, sponsored by African Development Bank Group (AFDB).

“We are supporting the Ministry of Trade to improve access to digital financial services and strengthen the competitiveness of the Malawian economy through digitalization,” said Nyasulu.

At a continental level, African countries that are parties to the AfCFTA have adopted a Digital Trade Protocol which recognizes issues of cross boarder data flows, data localization, and online consumer protection and privacy.