KAMPALA, Uganda — The Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Wilson Mbadi Mbasu, has called for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector to accelerate the establishment of Africa’s Digital Single Market, saying the future of trade will increasingly depend on digital technologies.

Speaking at the KTA Annual Africa Technology and Intellectual Property Symposium at the Marriott Hotel, Mbadi emphasised the need for practical measures to expand digital commerce and strengthen economic integration across the continent.

“As we go forward, trade is going to be done digitally,” Mbadi said, underscoring the growing importance of technology in facilitating business transactions and connecting markets.

He called for coordinated efforts between governments and private-sector players to address barriers that limit digital trade and prevent businesses from fully benefiting from opportunities across African markets.

The minister’s remarks come as African countries pursue the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2020–2030, which envisions the creation of an African Digital Single Market by 2030.

The initiative seeks to harness digital technologies to improve connectivity, facilitate cross-border commerce and support inclusive economic growth.

Mbadi’s call highlights the importance of moving beyond traditional trade barriers to address challenges affecting digital transactions, technology adoption and the movement of goods and services across national borders.

A more integrated digital market could create opportunities for businesses to reach customers across Africa, while improved digital infrastructure and cooperation could help expand participation in regional and continental trade.

The symposium brought together stakeholders to examine the intersection of technology and intellectual property, including the role of innovation and digital transformation in shaping Africa’s economic future.

Discussions around digital trade and intellectual property are particularly relevant as businesses increasingly rely on digital platforms to market products, deliver services and manage transactions across borders.

For Uganda and other African economies, stronger cooperation between policymakers, technology companies and businesses will be important in translating the continent’s digital transformation ambitions into practical economic opportunities.

Achieving the Digital Single Market vision by 2030 will require sustained collaboration, improved digital connectivity and measures that enable businesses to trade more easily across African borders.