VP Jalloh: Single Digital Market Essential for West Africa's Economic Future

VP Jalloh: Single Digital Market Essential for West Africa's Economic Future

The Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has formally urged West African leadership to expedite the establishment of a Single Digital Market within the ECOWAS region.

Addressing a high-level ECOWAS summit in Freetown, Dr. Jalloh emphasized that failure to harmonize digital frameworks poses a critical risk of significant economic marginalization for West Africa. He further characterized technological integration as the essential infrastructure required for long-term socio-economic stability and sustainable regional growth.

A unified digital ecosystem, he noted, would facilitate seamless cross-border commerce and enhance operational efficiency.

Strategic Priorities:

• Eliminate digital trade barriers to empower Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and grant access to broader regional markets.

• Coordinate regional efforts to substantially reduce the costs associated with telecommunications and internet connectivity.

• Leverage digital transformation as the primary driver for deeper regional integration across ECOWAS member states.

  
  

Dr. Jalloh concluded by asserting that digital transformation is an economic imperative, calling for immediate policy action to ensure West African youth are equipped to compete effectively within the global digital economy.