Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed has delivered a powerful and urgent message to African leaders, advocating for a rapid, decisive, and unified #DigitalTransformation to serve as the primary engine for the continent's future growth and regional integration. Speaking at the 24th Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government Summit in Nairobi, the Prime Minister framed digital adoption not as a choice, but as the essential mandate for achieving economic sovereignty.
The Urgency Defined by the COMESA Mandate
Prime Minister Abiy’s address was highly relevant to the Summit’s central theme: “Leveraging Digitalisation to Deepen Regional Value Chains for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.”
He underscored that the current global landscape necessitates immediate action from Africa. "Technology is reshaping the way countries grow, societies connect, and prosperity is shared. Africa is not at a point where it can afford to stand by and watch," he stated.
This declaration highlights the reality that in an era dominated by the #FourthIndustrialRevolution, standing still is tantamount to falling behind. For a continent looking to leverage the #AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area), the digital space offers the most direct route to eliminating traditional non-tariff barriers, expediting trade, and making African economies globally competitive. The goal is to move beyond merely exporting raw materials and instead, build resilient, high-value regional supply chains.
Digitalization as the Key to Continental Competitiveness
The COMESA region, representing a market of over 680 million people, stands to gain significantly from synchronized digital policies. Studies indicate that a 10% increase in the adoption of digital trade technologies could translate into a 5.5% increase in intra-COMESA exports.
This potential is why the bloc is actively pursuing a Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA), built on three critical pillars: trade, eLogistics, and legislation. Specific regional instruments, such as the Digital Retail Payments Platform designed to facilitate cross-border transactions in local currencies and reduce reliance on external financial systems and the Electronic Certificate of Origin (e-CO), are core to this vision.
PM Abiy’s call is a demand for accelerated commitment to these regional initiatives, stressing that financial and trade integration are inseparable from digital integration.
Ethiopia’s Blueprint: Sharing the 'Digital Ethiopia 2030' Experience
To provide a practical template for success, the Ethiopian leader shared the experiences of implementing his country's ambitious national strategy: #DigitalEthiopia2030. This plan is a core component of Ethiopia’s broader ten-year development perspective, aiming to transform the country into a regional manufacturing and trade center.
The national strategy is guided by a focus on four strategic pillars:
- Developing Reliable, Inclusive Infrastructure: Expanding digital connectivity and access across all demographics.
- Championing Adoption of Digital Payments: Building a secure, cash-lite, and financially inclusive ecosystem by digitizing government, social protection, agriculture, and cross-border remittance payments.
- Building a Robust Regulatory Framework: Establishing consistent laws for e-transactions, data protection, and cybersecurity to foster trust and security.
- Creating an Enabling Environment for Innovation: Supporting local tech entrepreneurship and building the necessary digital skills among the youth population.
This experience serves as a powerful testament that large-scale digital transformation is achievable with focused political will and a clear roadmap.
A Unified Future: Leveraging People, Innovation, and Resources
Ultimately, PM Abiy’s message resonated with a deep conviction in Africa's inherent capacity. He highlighted the continent’s unparalleled strengths: its young, dynamic population, its wealth of natural resources, and its capacity for innovation.
"The continent has the population, innovation, and natural resources to build a prosperous and equitable future; all that is required is to align our efforts and work with a common purpose," he asserted.
The Prime Minister’s concluding point was a profound articulation of #AfricanSelfReliance: when the continent invests in its own capacity and strengthens its digital foundations addressing persistent challenges like the digital skills gap and infrastructure deficits it can successfully bypass traditional developmental hurdles and compete globally on its own terms.
This call is a powerful reminder that the time for passive engagement has passed; the era of a digitally empowered, unified, and prosperous Africa is now.
#AfricaDigital #DigitalEconomy #COMESA #AbiyAhmed #DigitalEthiopia2030 #AfricanInnovation #IntraAfricanTrade #ETrade #DigitalInclusion #AfricanUnion #GrowthAgenda