Algeria launches UNCTAD’s eTrade Readiness Assessment to empower small businesses and deepen continental integration.
© Adobe Stock/Rvolution | Aerial view of Algiers, Algeria.
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the backbone of Africa’s economy continue to face persistent constraints in accessing finance, markets and digital solutions. Strengthening their capacity to leverage digital tools is a shared priority of African governments, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and eTrade for all partners.
This call was echoed at the recent Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), where leaders reaffirmed digital transformation as central to Africa’s growth and highlighted private sector development, innovation and resilient supply chains as drivers of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and inclusive prosperity.
Global momentum and Africa’s opportunity
Globally, e-commerce continues to reshape trade and consumer behavior, expanding from $17 trillion in 2016 to $27 trillion in 2022, according to UNCTAD’s Digital Economy Report.
For Africa, the combination of TICAD 9 commitments, AfCFTA opportunities and national efforts such as Algeria’s eT Ready sends a clear message: with the right policies and partnerships, digital trade can become a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable growth.
Algeria’s digital trade potential
On 26 August, Algeria is putting that vision into practice with the launch of its eTrade Readiness Assessment (eT Ready).
Algeria’s rapidly growing e-commerce sector illustrates both the opportunities and the challenges facing MSMEs. The number of registered e-commerce businesses has grown at an average annual rate of 92% since 2020, and online payment transactions have tripled.
However, most online trade is still domestic. Persistent barriers in logistics and cross-border trade continue to limit small businesses’ ability to scale regionally. Even so, business-to-consumer e-commerce sales already accounted for 0.8% of GDP in 2023, showing growth potential that aligns directly with Algeria’s economic diversification agenda.
The eT Ready provides a concrete roadmap to turn this potential into reality. It offers actionable recommendations to overcome structural barriers, enhance MSME competitiveness, and strengthen Algeria’s role in regional digital trade integration. This will be one of the core topics of discussions during the Digital for Development Forum at the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16), which will take place from 20 to 23 October 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
“With the launch of Algeria’s eTrade Readiness Assessment, we are supporting the country’s digital transformation. By empowering MSMEs to harness digital trade, we bring the promise of the AfCFTA closer to reality and ensure that no entrepreneur is left behind.”
Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD
From assessment to action
With 21 eT Readies already completed across Africa by UNCTAD, experience shows that these assessments boost government capacity to engage in regional e-commerce and digital trade negotiations. Algeria is now better positioned to advance its diversification strategy and deepen continental integration.
Continental cooperation platforms will help translate these ambitions into results. The 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), to be held in Algiers in September 2025, will offer a unique opportunity to showcase digital trade solutions, foster connections among African businesses, and advance the integration agenda.
This assessment was made possible through the financial and technical support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany’s international development agency, and UNCTAD's E-commerce and Digital Economy Programme core donors (Australia, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands).