By Kingsley Jassi:
Malawi seeks to protect the economy from the effects of digital trading.
Under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a digital trade protocol is being developed to ensure harmonised rules and common principles to enable and support digital trade across Africa.
However, in the Malawian context, this would bring trade security and efficiency issues, hence the need to prepare for suitable infrastructure and systems that are able to safeguard both the local consumer and trader.
Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Ministry of Industry and Trade Patrick Machika said in an interview that consultations were underway.
“The negotiations are ongoing at the continental level and we are currently soliciting views to have something we can take to the negotiation table,” Machika said.
He cited barriers in some countries when it comes to online trading, which may limit local suppliers to penetrate such markets.
He further mentioned secure trading and payment channels that guarantee local consumers and traders to receive purchased goods or payments without being duped.
Some traders that were interviewed expressed reservations on doing trade on line amid fraud cases that have left traders and consumers losing out.
Mercy Chavinda, of Tilime Honey Farm, said there was a need to put secure systems of digital trading, calling on the government to sensitise traders on how they could penetrate the international market with their products in a safer way.
“We have the potential to sell our products outside Malawi but we need to know how to go about it because sometimes there are security issues,” said Chavinda.
On the issue of standards, Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) Director General Bernard Thole said despite the proliferation of digital trading, they are on the guard on standards of products.
The digital trade protocol is focusing on promotion of intra-African digital trade to enhance cooperation on digital matters among State parties and creating a transparent, secure and trusted digital trade ecosystem.
