The training consisting of 6 sessions, was facilitated by Mr. Fabio Santoni ASeS-CeFor, the implementing partner of the project funded by Italy. Participants were trained through scenarios and business simulation techniques
LUSAKA, Zambia, June 13, 2025/APO Group/ --
The Permanent Secretary, Zambia Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry (MCTI), Mrs Lillian Bwalya said, the workshop takes place at a pivotal moment as Africa intensifies efforts to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), “I commend UNECA and the Government of Italy for this collaboration to organise this workshop that will provide public and private sector stakeholders with practical tools and methodologies to harness the full potential of e-commerce in driving export growth, enhancing market access, and building competitiveness in global and regional markets”.
She was speaking at the workshop on E-Commerce Marketing and Business Development Strategies for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Global Markets convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) and its Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa (SROSA) and funded by the Government of Italy.
The overall objective of the workshop was to strengthen the skills of participants from Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe to leverage e-trade opportunities in the context of AfCFTA. Mr. Enrico de Agostini, Ambassador of Italy in Zambia reiterated the importance of capacity building of entrepreneurs in the region to ensure sustainable development.
Ms. Beatrice Mutali, United Nations Resident Coordinator, speaking on behalf of the UN family in Zambia underscored the importance of partnerships between governments, international partners, private sector and the UN to address the gaps in digital trade such as infrastructure, connectivity to payment systems and regulatory frameworks.
The Director of ECA Subregional office for Southern Africa, Ms. Eunice Kamwendo, in her opening remarks, emphasised the efforts of ECA in implementing innovative and practical initiatives in order to better support member states. An example of which is this e-commerce training that was intended to provide strategic and practical tools necessary to unlock opportunities in the e-commerce space under the AfCFTA and in global markets.
She further noted that, the AfCFTA, with its promise of a US$3.4 trillion single market, presents ECA and its partners with a unique platform to reimagine value chains, promote innovation, and stimulate sustainable growth driven by the private sector. “At ECA, we believe that digitalization when guided by inclusive policies and backed by the right skills can bridge development gaps, unlock new markets, and catalyze youth employment”.
To complement the training ECA-SROSA experts presented on the AfCFTA and initiatives related to the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. Ms. Zodwa Mabuza, Chief Sub-Regional Initiatives outlined the protocol on digital trade indicating that it helps harmonize rules to boost Africa’s digital economy, cutting cross-border e-commerce costs, building trust, and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises. Ms. Bineswaree Bolaky, Economic Affairs Officer presented on the AfCFTA, its rationale and instruments, and on ECA’s work on AfCFTA, e-commerce and digital trade including outlining ECA’s support to member States on developing their National AfCFTA Strategies and Green Supplements to these strategies. Mr. Henry Lubinda, Programme Officer gave an overview of SRO-SA’s major areas of support to member States such as inclusive industrialization, green transitions, enhanced food systems and AfCFTA-led trade in Southern Africa.
The training consisting of 6 sessions, was facilitated by Mr. Fabio Santoni ASeS-CeFor, the implementing partner of the project funded by Italy. Participants were trained through scenarios and business simulation techniques.
At the closing of the workshop, certificates were remitted to participants by Mr. Aime Mbatkam, coordinator of the project at ECA’s training arm, the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning.
This collaborative initiative between ECA and the Government of Italy aimed at supporting Member states through a capacity building programme for the effective implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. Under Phase 2, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Malawi, Mauritania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe benefitted from (i) an assessment of e-trade readiness and (ii) a capacity needs assessment of stakeholders for AfCFTA implementation. These studies informed the design of the online training courses that were subseuqently delivered.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Brother Goth cut down on this 'His Excellecy;' and Honorble' thing you preface your news items with. No one uses them anymore. Just plain Somaliland Vice Mr Abdirahman Saylici met with …should do. This should apply to all politicians including the President
Good for development, job creation and good for recognition for Somaliland sovereignty. Anyone against is an enemy of Somaliland. Thanks to the Kulmiye government and specially the president and the Minister for foreign affairs yet for another mission accomplished.
Good for Somaliland indeed. Hope one of these projects is actually implemented. I bet moronic Berberawis wil demonstrate against this too. Fu7nny how they never demonstrated when Siyad Barre gave the Port to Russi and the mountains to North Korea. Not a beep.
Now they are all mouth.
Isaq waa gun guntuna isma indha buuxiso. Wisest words I ever heard.
kabocalaf
Dadka xaal sii. Reer Berbera hady gun yihiin, dadkoo dhami gun maaha.
Certainly, Berbera reversed to medieval era because of Ibhrahim-Dhegaweyne and his cohorts. I still remember the old days when Berbera was the only civilized city in Somaliland where all nationalities and tribes live together happily without tribalism and racism.
Haa Isaaq oo dhan ayaa gun ah. Guntu isma indha buuxiso oo wey isu urtaa sida orgida markaasay geesaha is dartaa. Markay Xayawaan kale arkaan xataa bisad jaanta ayey ka rogtaa!
Car mid reer Berbera ahi haka jawabo su'aashan: Markii Siyad Barre ina haystay ee uu Dekedda Berbera siiyay Ruushanka immisa reer Berbera ahbaa mudaaharaaday? Markuu sibidhka siiyay North Korea imisaa dhagax tuuray?
Ma arkeen(ma aha Reer Berbera oo keliya, ceebta weynnu wad leenahay) mid inaadeerkood ah oo Isaq ah markaasay giir iska wada kicinyaan oo dhbi lisanayaan.
War gun beynnu nahaee aan iska aqblanoo u yeedhano cid shisheeya ah oo ina xukunta kuwaasaynnu qiimeynne.
Waxa laguu sheegayaa reer Berbera qof buka ceeb ayay ku noqonaysaa in ay la tirsadaan. Ta kale sare laguula hadal oo hoos laguula hadal. Mayaadan dhego lahayn. Waxa lagu yidhi qof daciifa oo laga adkaaday ayuunbaa ku dul wareega qabyaalada. Sidee wax kaa yihiin ma biyo ajoobay mise biyo calcelis ah baa lagugu canqariyay. Reer Berbera xaqooday ka dhacsanayaan dawlada baa lagu yidhi sidii reer Caynaba ay xaqooda u dhacsadeen ee dagaalka ka rideen. Markaa raali ahaw lagula tirsan maayee.
Isaq waa gun waa gun, gun aan adiga ahayn kuma aragno halkan imika. Haddii aad ujeedo kale leedahay iska cadayso waa raganimo eh. Habeen wanaagsan.
Kabocalaf iyo Gulaidba waa isku hal qof oo magacyada badsanaya. Waxaan ku leeyahay kabocalafow waxxba kumaad hadlin hadaanu reer berbera nahayna xaal kaama doonayno sababto ah waxaad na tustay inaad caqli kugu filan aadan lahayn. Shimbiraha lalaayee ku dabaasha laydhaa ee laaleys baa ku dhaama.
Sharikadan la sheegayona hadii dani noogu jirtona waanu soo dhoweyn hadii kalena jidaafaha ayaanu u laabi. Siilaanyona waxba kama qaban karo sidii wershedii sibidhka.
Ta kale xasuuso 25% oo ah block 6 (oodweyne) inaad siiseen Ibrahim oo HJ ah. Intaydin siiseen reer yoonisna oo ah block 13 way soo bixi. Markaas inaanu foojigaanu oonu xaqayaga dhacsano waa nagu waajib.
Dhegihii baad iga gufaysaye aan kaa raaxaysto oo dhegaysto laaleeys ee hawada iiga baxa.
Siilaany, Siilaanyo. Siilaanyo has put on hold all efforts to seek political recognition from the world community. He even refused the valuable advice of some members of the European parliament who wisely advised him back in 2011 nt to limit efforts for the deplomatic recognition with only talks with the shakey weak and failed state of Somalia; but to adopt a dual truck foreign policy by fiercely engaging the international community for that politcal recognition in parallel line with opening talks with Somalia for the sam purpose. He blocked all efforts to restore the re-recognition of the statehood for the sake of filling his pockets and enriching himself and his family members at the very cost of the political recognition for our nation. The country under Siilaanyo the triator is in total collapse. Half of the country on the eastern regions is occupied by faqash remnats milita. Buuhoodle and Taleeh are no go area, talks with Somalia will never result in the two state solution, and every thing is at shambles. It is time to save the country from Siilaanyo.
I am afraid you are right Baaruud, unfortunately.
Here is proof of Siilaanyo's indecisiveness and weaknesses. Fiqi Fuliye community are pleading with him to honor the agreements that were signed in that famous public announcement made few months ago. Watch and see their pleas for yourself.
Tape starts in the middle. Rewind it to start from the beginning.
I do not know where all these hatred and crap chauvinistic triblism is coming. I live in Somaliland and specially in Berbera and we live in peace and prosperity. Had there been a problem we would have been the first to notice. Please do not believe what the politicians tell you, they are just competing to win seats and do not consider the consequences of their empty speeches. Let them not waste your time and each of you must try to participate in the development of your country and not destroying it.
You can criticize both the government and the opposition respectfully and be truthful in your accusation. Insults and counter insults have no place in our religion and not in our Somaliland culture. Berbera is for all and Saraar too.
Generalizations and stereotyping are the signs of ignorance. Smart people rebuttal ideas and do not hide behind a clan or attack a clan. Because someone from a certain clan has made a statement you don't like, it does not give you the license to attack a whole population. The mentally challenged ones are those who will most likely choose to attack people on tribal bases. Clannish attack is nothing more than shouting for help, because you feel helpless and defeated.
If you chose to blind fold yourself and selectively see only the clan of your opponent then you are a loser and deserve no public response.
Isaaq is Isaaq after all we have been thru and all the enemies sharpening knives for our necks do we really have time to be against each other? Calm yourselves down and think, when Somaliland prospers everyone prospers so solve your problems like brothers and quit this sub clan bs or we will end up like Hawiye tore up from the floor up