E-commerce will expand Africa's trade horizon'

E-commerce, if given the right framework and infrastructure, has the potential of aiding African countries and expanding the horizons of their trading to a competitive level in the global village.

This was the consensus on Tuesday at the Kuramo Conference, an international colloquium on trade, law, and economic development held in Lagos.

The conference participants agreed that with the right framework and strategy, Africa can make a difference in her economic and trade climate if she fully explored the benefits of e-commerce.

E-commerce is the buying and selling of products or services over the Internet and other modes of computer networks.

Enver Daniels, the chief state legal adviser, South Africa, said e-commerce has the potential to expand horizons of the African market.

Tackle infrastructural challenge

However, for e-commerce to be successful, African countries must address the attendant infrastructural challenges. Mr. Daniels said countries must take up the responsibility of developing infrastructure locally, for trade between countries to be successful.

"For instance, if you order for an item or items online from Ghana, Ghana must have the right infrastructure in place that would aid the movement of such orders to their destination, within the shortest time, and Nigeria must in turn have the appropriate infrastructure to receive such goods," he said.

He added that countries must also develop their human capital, adding that one of the major reasons militating against e-commerce success is the lack of understanding of its attendant benefits.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said legislation must also remove barriers to trade.

"A new legal order is now needed. There is the need to examine the existing legal order for trade and commerce among nations," Mr. Fashola said.

He also challenged participants to set the agenda "here and now, as regards the mechanism for a fair global regime."

Emmanuel Ayoola, a retired Supreme Court justice and the conference chairman, said it was a platform for the restoration of a nation, and not another talk shop.

"It is a forum to define the path of a new national vision, deploying application of knowledge and experience drawn from multifarious disciplines as tools.

"It is the platform to launch the new order that is shaped by right thinking, right values, right ideas and palpable commitment," Mr. Ayoola said
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