Growing Intra-African Trade through Digital Transformation of Border and Customs Services Regional Action Group for Africa

This report, prepared in collaboration with Deloitte, offers a pragmatic perspective on non-tariff barriers encountered in border and customs services. It argues that these can be exponentially improved through digital transformation to increase trade on the continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential to increase intra-African trade from 18% of total trade to 50% by 2030 and lift 30 million people out of extreme poverty – but this will require significant policy reforms and trade facilitation measures.

The paper highlights insights from the Logistic Performance Index as well as key insights from case studies demonstrating the value of digital reforms in various African countries, including Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. It provides a call to action for more integrated digital reforms that can drive higher impact through public and private partnerships that set the course for Africa’s post-pandemic recovery and growth.