E-commerce and Financial Architecture of Trade in Services in Lesotho

This policy paper explores the crucial intersection of e-commerce and financial architecture in the context of trade in services in Lesotho. According to the World Bank, the services sector accounted for 49.17% of Lesotho's GDP in 2021, followed by the industry sector (34.23%) and the agriculture sector (4.95%). The services sector includes a wide range of activities, such as tourism, transportation, financial services, and government services. As such, Lesotho's economy heavily relies on services, making it imperative to understand the role of e-commerce and the financial infrastructure supporting the trade in services. This paper assesses the current state of e-commerce, identifies challenges, and offers policy recommendations to enhance the e-commerce ecosystem and financial architecture in Lesotho for the benefit of both the services sector and the broader economy.