In April 2023, TMA participated in two capacity-building sessions on digital trade. The first session was held in Dakar, Senegal, from April 3-6, 2023, for the Northern and West African countries. The second session was held in Kampala, Uganda, from April 13-16, 2023, for the East, Central, and Southern African
countries. These sessions aimed to enhance the negotiating skills and competencies of State Parties in developing a Protocol on digital trade suitable for African economies, in line with the AfCFTA’s African Digital Transformation strategy (DTS).

The Committee on Digital Trade comprises all State Parties and held its inaugural meeting from December 5-9, 2023, where they developed the Terms of Reference (ToRs), guidelines, and principles for negotiating the Protocol on digital trade and a roadmap for negotiations of the Protocol on Digital Trade by member states.

Partnering with the AfCFTA Secretariat through the Economic Recovery and Reform Activity, TMA will provide technical support to the Committee in the implementation of three core outcomes: 
Enhancing the digital policy framework for improved digital trade market access in Africa;
Improving coordination on the digital trade protocol adoption process; and
Enhancing the e-commerce framework for improved logistics services.
Government representatives from the Ministries of Trade, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), regulatory authorities responsible for ICT and data protection, central banks, and revenue authorities attended both sessions.