The Government of Seychelles has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a digital trade portal to transform Africa’s trading system and accelerate intra-African commerce.
Seychelles Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Hon. Pierre Laporte, said the initiative would provide the foundation for a more digitalised trading system capable of connecting businesses and markets across national borders.
Mr Laporte made the remarks at a ceremony marking the signing of a joint venture agreement for the establishment of the AfCFTA Digital Trade Portal.
He said the Government of Seychelles fully supported the initiative and commended the leadership of AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene and President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan for championing the use of digital infrastructure to transform Africa’s trading architecture.
According to Mr Laporte, the future of trade increasingly depends on modern digital systems that can facilitate connections between businesses, markets and consumers across borders.
“On behalf of the Government of Seychelles, I thank you, sir, for your trust and for the steadfast commitment to Africa’s shared prosperity,” he said.
Seychelles backs implementation
Mr Laporte said Seychelles had taken concrete steps to demonstrate its commitment to the project following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March.
He disclosed that the project had secured Cabinet approval in July, reflecting the government’s confidence in its potential to transform trade across Africa.
The government, he added, had also allocated land for the headquarters of the initiative and committed the necessary financial and institutional support to facilitate its implementation.
‘Smallest nation, huge ambition’
Mr Laporte acknowledged that Seychelles was one of Africa’s smallest nations but said its size did not limit its ambition or capacity to host a project of continental significance.
He highlighted Seychelles’ status as Africa’s only high-income country, alongside its relatively high GDP per capita and performance in areas such as health, education and governance.
“These are testimony to our ambition,” he said, arguing that Seychelles could provide a conducive environment for an institution as strategically important as the AfCFTA Digital Trade Portal.
He said hosting the portal would complement Seychelles’ broader efforts to promote intra-African trade while demonstrating the contribution a small island state could make to Africa’s economic integration.
Mr Laporte noted that Seychelles had consistently supported continental integration through its participation in regional organisations, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
He described Seychelles as a potential bridge between markets and a hub for connecting African economies through trusted and modern digital infrastructure.
Investment in Africa’s prosperity
Mr Laporte stressed that the digital trade portal should not be viewed simply as a technology project but as a strategic investment in Africa’s economic future.
He said the initiative represented an investment in the continent’s prosperity and the broader vision of creating a truly integrated African market.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the AfCFTA leadership and other partners for their collaboration and support towards advancing the digital trade initiative.
He said Seychelles remained committed to working with its continental partners to ensure that the project translated into tangible improvements in the way African businesses trade across borders.