AfCFTA Secretary-General commends Ethiopia’s digital payments progress
Date: 2025-12-09
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Secretariat, H.E. Wamkele Mene, has commended Ethiopia for its progress in
building an inclusive and interoperable digital payments ecosystem, describing
it as a key driver of national competitiveness and continental integration.
Mr.
Mene made the remarks in Addis Ababa during the Ethiopia Digital Payments
Conference 2.0, where policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders convened
to discuss the future of digital finance on the continent. He noted that
Ethiopia’s advances in digital payments align with the objectives of the AfCFTA
by facilitating seamless trade, reducing transaction barriers, and
strengthening economic integration across Africa.
The
conference also marked the launch of Ethiopia’s National Digital Payments
Strategy alongside an Instant Payment System. These initiatives are expected to
enhance the efficiency and reliability of financial transactions, support
cross-border trade, and expand participation by micro, small, and medium-sized
enterprises.
According
to the AfCFTA Secretariat, interoperable and efficient digital payment systems
are critical enablers of the continental free trade area, as they promote
financial inclusion, lower the cost of doing business, and enable African
enterprises to compete more effectively in the digital economy.
Participants
at the conference highlighted the role of coordinated policy, innovation, and
regional cooperation in advancing Africa’s digital transformation and ensuring
that digital payment infrastructure supports the goals of inclusive growth and
sustainable development under the AfCFTA framework.
