President Uhuru Kenyatta has today Presided over the opening of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD Africa Regional E-Commerce Week. The forum brings together various stakeholders, & focuses on implementation of policies & innovations that promote a digital economy in Africa.
The President has emphasized that for the African Continent to benefit from e-commerce and the digital economy, the policy environment has to be conducive. He has called for appropriate attention to be given to this sector.
The President has reiterated that his government has been in the frontline in promoting the use of digital technology to enhance delivery of services to Kenyan Citizens with the objective being to reduce the cost and time taken by citizens and businesses to get government services.
The President pledged to continue to promote technological innovations by ensuring conducive policy environment.
“Innovations such as Mpesa mobile money transfer have put Kenya on the global technology map. I will therefore continue to promote technology innovations by ensuring conducive policy environment, which balance between innovation and regulation to ensure Kenya remains ahead in ICT,” said the President.
The President said that the elements of Digital Economy will be instrumental in helping his government implement the Big 4 Agenda.
“As we progress in implementing the Big 4 Agenda elements of Digital Economy will be instrumental in planning for the industries of the future. I look forward to getting more ideas that can strengthen our resolve to enhance a manufacturing sector that is competitive,” added Uhuru.
According to UNCTAD there were at least 21 million online shoppers in Africa in 2017, this was less than 2% of the world total, and just three countries on the continent – Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya – accounted for almost half this figure. The scale of the untapped benefits of e-commerce is vast.
“Turning this tremendous opportunity into inclusive development requires a massive effort on the part of all of us – in Africa and beyond,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said.
“We are at a critical juncture – and that is why UNCTAD decided to have a meeting in Africa, for Africa and by Africa, focused on harnessing the potential of digitalization and the mobile revolution.”
With the theme Empowering African Economies in the Digital Era, Africa eCommerce Week responds to the growing demand for dialogue between governments, the private sector, civil society groups and multilateral institutions on how Africa can reap the harvest of the digital commercial revolution already taking place.
What other measures should the Kenyan Government take to promote innovation?