The East African Business Council (EABC) and Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation to boost digital trade, cross-border e-commerce, financial inclusion, and efficient logistics services across East Africa. The MoU was signed by Sifundo Chief Moyo, Secretary General of PAPU, and Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, at PAPU Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, recently. This strategic partnership reflects a shared commitment of the two organisations in harnessing the opportunities presented by evolving digital economy especially in the areas of digital economy and e-commerce with focusing on increased market access, improved efficiency and productivity and enhanced customer experiences in the integrated African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “This partnership marks a new chapter in leveraging postal networks and private sector collaboration to unlock the potential of Africa’s growing digital economy as well as facilitating customers meet the market,†said Dr. Sifundo Chief Moyo, Secretary General of PAPU. “This MoU is a powerful step towards integrating postal and business ecosystems to better serve SMEs, youth, and women-led enterprises to trade via e-commerce across the continent,†said Mr. Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC. He urged the EAC Partner States to enhance their efforts in addressing challenges inhabiting the flourishing of both digital trade and e-commence in the region. PAPU is a specialized agency of the African Union, mandated to coordinate and promote postal development across Africa. Headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, PAPU works with its 45 member states to modernize the postal sector through policy, infrastructure, and innovation. ‘Some of the challenges which need to be addressed include: cybersecurity risks, data protection & privacy concerns, regulatory & compliance issues and infrastructure & connectivity limitations in the region,†Njau said The MoU outlines key areas of collaboration, including: joint promotion of cross-border e-commerce and logistics solutions; capacity building for SMEs and postal operators on digital trade and financial inclusion; Advocacy to eliminate barriers to digital trade and improve last-mile delivery infrastructure. The others are; co-organization of forums such as an EAC E-Commerce Stakeholders Roundtables and support for the implementation of innovative GovTech and e-commerce platformsto accelerate service delivery.
