Unlocking Africa's $180bln digital trade economy
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
SOURCE
dmg Nigeria events
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
South Africa: President Ramaphosa concludes meeting between the National Executive and the Northern Cape Provincial Executive Council
President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded a meeting between the National executive and the Northern Cape Provincial Executive. The meeting, held under the theme 'Unlocking the Northern Cape potential as a modern, growing and successful province', was the sixth formal engagement that the national executive had with a provincial executive. The meeting was also joined by Executive Mayors. Previous sessions include meetings with the Executive Councils of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and most recently, the Eastern Cape. These sessions have resulted in strengthening cooperative governance, breaking down silos and cooperative project planning that leads to collaborative execution. As President Ramaphosa said during the Budget Debate last week, when the three spheres of government work together, the lives of the people of South Africa are improved. It is envisaged that the National Executive would have met with the leadership of the remaining provinces over the next few months. The President emphasised the importance of structured engagements between the national and provincial executives that assist government coordinate more efficiently, resolve challenges together and to plan smarter. The meetings are also meant to facilitate innovative ideas and proposals to address service delivery and skills challenges. The meeting discussed the ongoing roll out of catalytic economic development projects that require the deepening of cooperation between the national and provincial governments. These include the Boegoebaai Harbor and SEZ development, revitalisation and expansion of Vaalharts, Namakwa SEZ and the development of the infrastructure masterplan. The meeting further affirmed closer cooperation on issues of climate change mitigation considering the province's vulnerability to erratic weather conditions. The national executive pledged to continue working closely with the province in areas of Transport and Logistics, Basic Education, Water and Sanitation infrastructure development, Human Settlements, Tourism and Energy and Electricity. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
European Peace Facility: Council adopts first assistance measure in support of the Djibouti Armed Forces
Today the Council adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in support of the Djibouti Armed Forces. This first measure benefitting Djibouti is worth €10 million and aims to strengthen the defence capacities of the Djibouti Armed Forces to safeguard the sovereignty and rights of Djibouti in accordance with the United Nation Convention Law of the Sea and to strengthen maritime security in the Red Sea. The assistance measure is expected to enhance the Djiboutian Navy's operational readiness by contributing to: the development and maintenance of assets to deliver full operational capabilities over the long term increased maritime domain awareness enhanced presence at sea Today's decision is in line with the EU's objective to provide an integrated and coherent response to the increased insecurity in the Red Sea and secure EU interests at this critical maritime chokepoint. In this regard, EPF support will strengthen Djibouti's potential with respect to maritime domain awareness, complementing EU Common Security and Defence Policy operations in the Red Sea. Background and next steps The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 for the financing of actions under the common foreign and security policy to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third States and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Council of the European Union.
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Ambassador GAO Wenqi Visits Chinese-Invested Enterprises in Rwanda
On July 25, Ambassador GAO Wenqi visited the C&D Products Group. The company executives gave a briefing on the company's production, operations, and development, as well as the working and living conditions of its employees. Ambassador GAO encouraged the company to adhere to safe production and compliant operation, and take good care of its employees, so as to actively fulfill its social responsibilities and set up a good image for Chinese enterprises. He also asked the company to actively take part in and contribute to Rwanda's economic and social development, and promote China-Rwanda relations. Specializing in apparel manufacturing and export, C&D was established in Rwanda in 2019. It has created over 7,000 jobs for local communities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Rwanda.
