• Côte d’Ivoire launched Tradepost to digitalize postal logistics and ease cross-border trade in ECOWAS.
• Authorities expect the system to accelerate customs procedures, reduce logistics costs and provide full shipment traceability.
• The initiative targets improved access to African and international markets for Ivorian SMEs.

Côte d’Ivoire launched the Tradepost project on December 1 in Abidjan to modernize postal logistics and facilitate cross-border commerce within ECOWAS. The Universal Postal Union (UPU), La Poste de Côte d’Ivoire and the West African Postal Conference (CPEAO) jointly support the initiative. The project signals a new phase in regional economic integration and in the digitalization of postal services.

Assoua Raymond, chief of staff at the Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization, said Tradepost will “accelerate customs procedures through digitalization, reduce logistics costs and delivery times, while offering full shipment traceability.” He added that the platform represents “a strategic instrument to connect Ivorian SMEs to African and international markets.”

Tradepost aims to digitalize and harmonize procedures linked to trade flows, including parcel declaration, processing, tracking and customs formalities. It also seeks to connect users to regional and global e-commerce platforms. Authorities designed the system to remove long-standing barriers to cross-border trade in West Africa, such as fragmented regulations, high logistics costs, slow procedures and weak integration of digital ecosystems.

The launch aligns with the rapid rise of digital trade in West Africa. Improved connectivity, broader digital public services and the growth of online-commerce platforms drive this momentum. Côte d’Ivoire stands out in this trend. The country’s e-commerce market reached more than CFA280 billion ($495.5 million) in 2023 and is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 11.3% through 2027, according to Ivorian e-commerce industry stakeholders.

Authorities expect Tradepost to strengthen parcel traceability and harmonize procedures across borders. They said the system should reduce obstacles to regional commerce, improve market access for artisans, farmers and young entrepreneurs, and support a more transparent and efficient e-commerce ecosystem in ECOWAS. The data-driven approach will allow policymakers to identify bottlenecks, guide investment and sustain long-term digital and economic integration.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum