International Economics is conducting an assessment of Mauritius’ legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for digital trade, benchmarking them against the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, and developing a roadmap for reform and implementation.
The project is being implemented within the ODI Global project “Supporting Investment and Trade in Africa”, which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Mauritius is positioning itself as a regional leader in digital trade and innovation, with a clear focus on strengthening its role within the African digital economy. To support this ambition, International Economics is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the country’s legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for digital trade, aligning them with the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade. In collaboration with ODI’s core team, International Economics will provide critical local insights, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and lead key aspects of the analysis. This will culminate in a detailed reform roadmap and actionable policy recommendations aimed at advancing Mauritius’ digital trade alignment and enhancing its competitiveness in the African digital landscape.
Our Team will assess Mauritius’ readiness to align its digital trade frameworks with the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade. This will involve mapping key national stakeholders, including government ministries, regulatory bodies, private sector actors, and civil society organisations, and facilitating engagement through meetings, interviews and workshops. A critical component of the work will be mapping Mauritius’ existing digital trade policies, identifying gaps, and conducting a detailed comparative analysis of the country’s frameworks against AfCFTA provisions, covering key areas such as cross-border data flows, e-signatures, consumer protection, and cybersecurity. The Team will also identify opportunities for including SMEs, women, and youth in the digital economy, and provide insights into the political economy and institutional considerations for reform. Based on the findings, the Team will develop a phased policy reform roadmap, assess political feasibility, and support the drafting of the final report and policy recommendations. The consultancy will conclude with a dissemination workshop to validate the findings and recommendations with stakeholders.
E-Commerce and digital trade are a vital way for businesses to transact with customers, creating immense opportunities, facilitate innovation, enhance competitiveness, and improve access in local and global markets.
International Economics provides advice and solutions on some of the latest emerging trends in e-commerce and digital trade such as paperless trading, e-payments, online consumer protection and data protection. We assist governments and businesses worldwide in creating an enabling environment for e-commerce and digital trade, to maximise economic growth and development.
