• The AfCFTA Secretariat, Quest Ghana Limited, and the Seychelles government signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the archipelago as a digital trade hub.
• The initiative aims to integrate Seychellois companies, particularly MSMEs, into Africa’s digital value chains and cross-border e-commerce ecosystem.
• The Seychelles benefits from strong digital readiness, with internet penetration at 87.4%, while its e-commerce market could reach $46.41 million by 2027, according to Statista.

The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat formalized a memorandum of understanding on March 5 with Quest Ghana Limited and the Government of Seychelles.

The partners designed the agreement to transform the Indian Ocean archipelago into a competitive hub for digital trade and cross-border commerce across Africa. The initiative focuses on integrating Seychellois businesses into Africa’s digital value chains.

Stakeholders said the project aims to enable local operators to participate more actively in dematerialized trade flows. The program will rely on trade facilitation mechanisms established under the African Continental Free Trade Area. Consequently, authorities expect the initiative to expand the role of Seychelles-based companies in the continent’s growing digital marketplace. The partnership plans to introduce a technical framework that will secure cross-border digital transactions.

The agreement emphasizes system interoperability, which partners consider essential for simplifying payments and commercial exchanges between companies operating under different jurisdictions. This technical alignment aims to reduce friction in cross-border digital trade and accelerate regional integration.

Today, the #AfCFTA Secretariat, Quest Ghana Limited and the government of the Republic of Seychelles signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance Seychelles’ digital economy, and digital trade under the AfCFTA.

The collaboration aims to position Seychelles as a… pic.twitter.com/M4xsA9bnZZ

— AfCFTA Secretariat Official (@AfCFTA) March 5, 2026

The initiative places particular emphasis on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Partners aim to improve MSMEs’ access to digital infrastructure in order to remove barriers that limit participation in intra-African trade. They expect stronger digital access to allow local companies to join Africa’s expanding digital commerce ecosystem.

The Seychelles supports this diversification strategy with a relatively advanced digital environment. Data from DataReportal shows that internet penetration in the country reached 87.4% of the population in early 2025.

At the same time, e-commerce continues to expand. Estimates from Statista indicate that the Seychelles’ online retail market could grow at an average annual rate of 14.35% between 2023 and 2027, reaching $46.41 million by 2027.

At the continental level, the project aligns with the AfCFTA’s ambition to build a single market of 1.3 billion consumers. Policymakers view e-commerce and digital services as key drivers for achieving a combined African GDP of $3.4 trillion. Officials expect digital trade to reduce transaction costs and accelerate the circulation of goods and services across African markets.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum