Fortifying Africa’s Digital Infrastructure: Connecting Markets, Building Trust, Accelerating Trade
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LAGOS, Nigeria, May 19, 2025/APO Group/ --
The future of African trade is digital, and it’s unfolding. From Dakar to Durban, a quiet but steady transformation is taking shape. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global trade hit a record $33 trillion in 2024, with developing economies, including Africa, playing a growing role in that expansion.

Container cargo ship in the export and import business
The African Free Continental Trade Area offers the largest free market, including 55 countries, a population of 1.3 billion and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. The opportunities are vast, yet the strategies required for industrial players to source, move and manage raw materials and finished goods remain a challenge.
“The continent’s digital economy is projected to reach $180 billion by 2025, up from $115 billion in 2020, thus contributing significantly to Africa’s GDP, creating new job opportunities, and expanding regional trade. Digital trade is transforming the continent’s economic landscape, creating new opportunities for real economic growth, productive job creation, and poverty reduction.” H.E. Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment
“Building on this rapid expansion, our focus must shift from isolated digital initiatives to a fully integrated ecosystem that streamlines every step of trade—sourcing, supplying, logistics and payments. By integrating these functionalities on a single platform, Matta enables manufacturers to navigate sourcing headaches and suppliers to manage cross-border complexities with confidence and unlocks new markets in Africa in real time. This holistic approach is what will transform digital trade’s potential into tangible, inclusive economic growth across Africa.” Mudiaga Mowoe, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Matta.
Launched to enable sustainable African economies, Matta’s integrated ecosystem—today powered by the Matta digital marketplace (www.Matta.Trade) and the Flux logistics management tool, with Oxide Finance (Matta’s upcoming trade-financing and cross-border payments platform) arriving soon—empowers manufacturers and suppliers across food & beverage, home & personal care, paints & coatings, agro-processing, automotive assembly, textiles, construction, and beyond with truly end-to-end sourcing, movement, and settlement. Rather than supplanting traditional trade networks, this unified platform amplifies human partnerships through real-time visibility, traceability, and seamless transactions.
This evolution in digital trade and industrial growth is one of the key conversations that will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit and Exhibition, set to take place from October 21-23, 2025. West Africa IMT is a high-level platform for government leaders, investors, manufacturers, and technology innovators to align practical solutions and policy frameworks for accelerating Africa’s industrial transformation.
Matta, Africa’s integrated ecosystem for industrial trade, will join other industry stakeholders across the continent at West Africa IMT 2025 to discuss the potential opportunities for industrial growth in the West African sub-region. As manufacturers increasingly seek more innovative, more efficient ways to power production beyond physical infrastructure and policy support, there’s an urgent need for systems that simplify sourcing, enhance transparency, and ensure supply chain reliability. Matta addresses these challenges by connecting African manufacturers directly to verified suppliers of raw materials and commodities, ensuring business continuity in an environment where procurement bottlenecks often slow production timelines.
Digital platforms address multiple challenges simultaneously: procurement complexities, logistics coordination, payment processing, and data-based planning. By integrating these capabilities into industrial operations, West African economies can accelerate development timelines and establish competitive manufacturing centres that participate effectively in global markets.
As African nations chart independent economic paths, digital trade platforms like Matta will significantly influence how quickly and effectively new industrial capabilities develop. The transformation in African trade is already underway, with effects that will continue to reshape economic relationships for years to come.
West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition
21-23 October 2025 I Landmark Centre | Lagos | Nigeria
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of dmg Nigeria events.Contact Details:
Roshan Jan-Mahomed
Head of Marketing – Africa
Email: info@westafricaimt.com
www.WestAfricaIMT.com
About the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit and Exhibition 2025:
The Pre-eminent Global Gathering Driving West Africa's Industrial Revolution
The West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing and Trade (West Africa IMT) Summit and Exhibition will unite the industrialisation ecosystem, including energy, finance, infrastructure, manufacturing, raw materials, logistics/supply chain, technology, trade and security, to accelerate a sustainable industrial revolution for West Africa. As governments across the region have declared industrialisation as a key priority, the Strategic Summit will feature the visions from Heads of government seeking public–private partnerships to drive industrial revolution across the region. Decisive action is at the core of the agenda, providing solutions for sustainable resource valorisation and opening up trade pathways for economic development and prosperity.
Participation is expected from across the global industrialisation value chain including the following industries: Aerospace, Agriculture, Automotive, Chemicals, Construction, Energy & Utilities, FCMG, Heavy Industries, ICT & Electronics, Infrastructure, Logistics & Transportation, Machine & Equipment, Maritime, Medical, Mining, Plastics & Rubber, Pharmaceuticals, Retail, Technology Solution Providers, Textiles, Water & Utilities.
● 15+ African ministers
● 25+ countries represented from around the globe
● 70+ expert industry speakers
● 250+ exhibiting companies
● 500+ conference delegates
● 2,500+ attendees
About dmg Nigeria events:
dmg Nigeria events is a subsidiary of dmg events. dmg events is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT), an international portfolio of information, media and events businesses.
DMGT manages a diverse, multinational portfolio of companies, with total revenues of around £1 billion, that provide businesses and consumers with compelling information, analysis, insight, events, news and entertainment. Its venture capital business, dmg ventures, holds minority stakes in early-stage businesses and focuses particularly on disruptive consumer media propositions.
Headquartered in Dubai, UAE since 1989 with offices in Canada, Egypt, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and the UK. dmg events is an international exhibition, conference and intelligence company, attracting more than 1,000,000 attendees to a portfolio of over 80 events each year.
This global portfolio works closely with key stakeholders across the industry to facilitate pragmatic dialogue, serving as a platform for the latest discussions at the forefront of change.
For more information on dmg events, visit: www.dmgevents.com
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The terrorist always have the initiative we must stand stronger, and fight them before they even think about attacking our troops and people, we must fight the enemies of this great nation. Somalia now became a base for the international terrorism, and their goal is to destroy the last hope for the Somali people..
Long live Somaliland
Laascaanood will be free from the tribaal institution of SomaliISaaqLand
Long live the brave soldiers of Somaliland, the tugs from Pugland will never defeat you.
Somaliland waa qaran ee maaha qabiil,horay u ahayd qaran maantana waa qaran.Markaa waxan ku leeyahay waan garanayaa ninkan kor wax ku qorayow inaanad Somaliland u dhalan laakiin aad is leedahay isku dir laakiin shacabka somaliland waxaa way ka tashadeen markaa waxan ku leeyahay xanuunka ku haya hanna qaadsiinin.NO QABIIL BUT QARAN.
SOMALILAND LONG LIVE,
Somaliland army will hunt those Bugland militias whenever they are.
Somaliland has been in patiant with Bugland militias but the people of Lasanoodians are happy to be Somalilanders 80 % of them,
Somaliland is a country
Somaliland is a nation.
Elmi Muhumed
Good job Lasaanood Security Forces. Be on guard and vigilant at all time. The safety and security of our country and people depends on you.
God bless Somaliland!
All of us should support peace no matter where either Putland, Somaliland and any where else. We need to put a side for propoganda and help our people to live in safe envornment. Just think outside the box we will be always Somali to other people in the world;therefore, we don't need dislike one another.
Yes, we all have different dreams but the botter line is we should stand up for our people to live in harmony. Having say that if Somaliland isn't clan based authority or government for all us we will see it . Yes, we will give a chance for Somaliland and those of you who are working its cause but sometimes we read between the lines and infact are question Somaliland's future. I don't blame anyone including your leader mr. Riyale. Those of us who live abroad we should stop deep rooted division in Somalis all over the world. I should say these brother who run Somalilandpress do get credits not cuting people voices out regardless of our differences.
@ Ayaanle, …Yes, we will give a chance for Somaliland and those of you who are working its cause but sometimes we read between the lines and infact are question Somaliland's future. I don't blame anyone including your leader mr. Riyale …
'Your leader Mr. Riyaale?" And who is your leader, waaba yaabe? I thought you were said earlier that you were from Awdal. I hardly read your comments because most of the time what say doesn't make any sense to me and that is why I try to ignore it. But it is clear to me noe that you are a heckling impostered. So, why don't you take a hike Ayanle and spend your energy with those other hecklers who comments on Somaliland haters' websites . No doubt, they will listen to your nonsense.
True said Bor. He is another hatred person.
Sister, you sound like you are some of these Somaliland ministers or those who work with them who had earning money from Somaliland and nothing wrong with. I am from Awdal but my leader is stephen Harper if you don't know him he is Canadian leader that we elected. I think my comments doesn't make sense to you because people like me are neutral in Somali political. I careless who my comments make sense or don't. That doen't mean we are forgetting where we from but is rather shaking off the inward thinking.
We also taking to account that we live outside Eas-Africa;therefore, where we live has more to do how we think. In N.America, you will have chines, Indian, and people around the globe in your neighbors and we all respect the laws of the land. Somali people is just too small to divide since all these other communities stick together and Somali community divissions should be contain inside Africa not to follow us whatever we went.
If we see something working for us, we support. I can be Awdals and not Somalilander since I have my home, friends and there. Democracy is matter of choices.I hope the ghoses that hunting Somalis go away.
You are ignorant to the Somali case, therefore it would be better for you to believe the illusion of who you represent, and as long as you don’t understand the fact and the history of the Somali ppl you’re preaching is worthless, and honestly I found it to be bull****
Ayaanle, You express yourself very well..and you are right Somaliland is clan based authority. I am sure my comment will be deleted…ANd i dont understand why you would allow people to write their comments and delele them..
Ayaanle, You express yourself very well..and you are right Somaliland is clan based authority. I am sure my comment will be deleted…ANd i dont understand why you would allow people to write their comments and delele them..
Ayaanle,
Do not Blame the Awdal people, because they are a real Somalilanders, you must know that the BORAMA was one of the somaliland’s mothers.
Time to invade Garowe and clean up this corrupt Froole admin
ur funny bro u fight with a couple darood sub sub clans and u think its war sorry but the real war is coming real soon and trust me u guys will be confined to the triangle burco hargeysa berbera trust me. u guys are trying to slowly move into las canod and other degans in sool sanag and cayn but reality u guys are gonna be crushed trust me the real war all out war will come and we wont rest until we have full control of our territory im a native of sool and i shall stay with my blood brothers in puntland greater somalia
Clannish political elites always find ways to maintain their grip on their clan constituency. In this news article, I do not see anything more than propaganda to secure division among the Somali people. The so called Puntland and Somaliland clan elites are eating off from this division but soon they will yield to the rise of the betrayed people of Somalia by the clannish as well as religious elites. Time for national solution is ripe.
all the arrigant, hypocritical somaliland haters out there get real and sucked up we have made up our minds 20 years ago and it will be that way with or out recognition.
on more thing TO DARAWISH dude snap out of your day dream because once the new kulmiye government takes over you guys will be dealt with an iron fist i assure you short minded all non -loyal dhulbahante clan /darood you have not seen war yet if fought you to our capabilties u will be in boosaasoo.
remember we who kicked out siyaad bare are still alive as well as many brave
somalilanders who are willing to but there lifes on the line
xasan younis is dead {ala ha unaxariistee}but remember we still do have many who are as cabable as him who will make you beg for mercy.
so darawish the dulbahante lesson is just begining so dont get ahead of your self because by time we are done with your people you wont be posting such comments up .
like it or not somaliland way dhaqaaqday
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