Riyaz Patel
Technology can be used to unify and industrialise African economies, says Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel.
“Data is to the 21st century what oil and steel was to the 20th century. Africa must become more than a consumer market for digital services produced elsewhere. We must become innovators and producers too, exporting services and building capabilities,” Patel said at the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Patel, who was co-chairing a session of AGOA with United States Deputy Trade Representative CJ Mahoney, said digitisation provides opportunities for industrialisation, job creation, entrepreneurship, economic development and tax collection to fund social programmes.
He added that trade partnerships must be aligned to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“The establishment of an African free-trade zone will enable the continent to speak with one voice and potentially boost exports to the US,” said Patel.
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