Africa’s digital future makes an important and timely contribution to the literature on Africa, exploring the many opportunities and challenges that the continent faces in a world characterised by accelerating technological change. Edited by Prof Wilma Viviers, Ali Parry and Dr Adelia Jansen van Rensburg, the book has been published in an online format by AOSIS, the open-access publisher which hosts a wide range of journals and independent publications on its platform. The book is therefore freely available to anyone who wishes to read it online or download a copy.

The study explores structural and practical issues following the adoption of Indonesia’s e-commerce roadmap (2017–2019) and its implications for the future of the country’s digital economy. Two major categories of issues are examined in order to identify problems and challenges confronted by related stakeholders. The first category, i.e. the structural one, relates to the larger governance context of the country’s digital economy to which e-commerce activities are attached.

E-commerce is growing rapidly in Argentina and Brazil, and in both countries the share of the population participating in e-commerce transactions exceeds the Latin American average. Both countries have established a legal framework for data protection, regulation of the internet, consumer protection, taxation of e-commerce, and contracts and e-signatures. Argentina and Brazil also have submitted proposals for negotiations over the treatment of e-commerce transactions in WTO Agreements, and included e-commerce provisions in free trade agreements (FTAs).

The aim of the project is to improve capacity and deepen understanding of trends in the world economy and international trade during the post-pandemic period. Two cases on digital trade and the economic effects of COVID-19 will be developed for the revised edition of the book "World Economy and International Economic Relations" for undergraduate students. One academic paper will also be produced. In addition, a conference on "Effects of COVID-19 on Russian and Latin American economies and trade policies" will be held and the activities thereof published.
 

In light of the rapid advancement of e-commerce in the country, it is imperative that Morocco formulate a national e-commerce strategy and participate in the plurilateral negotiations which are taking place at the WTO. As a developing country, it must analyse the risk of adopting e-commerce rules that could widen the digital deficit in favour of businesses and developed countries which have a technological and historical advantage.
 

This project is intended to deliver research outputs and solutions to the major problems facing e-commerce and the digital economy in China and the WTO. The first part of the research will examine what approach China should take regarding global governance of the digital economy in the face of the US, EU and Japan's strategies, and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also examine China's efforts to constrain data governance hegemony through the "Digital Silk Road," a component of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Can the digital economy help to alleviate the problem of inequality and forge more inclusive growth or will it exacerbate divisions as time goes by, to the detriment of those countries (including South Africa, India and Brazil) that have among the most unequal societies in the world? And what are the implications for trade policy, especially in developing countries?

Dr. Kate Litondo from the University of Nairobi gave a presentation on ecommerce and digitization, covering the following objectives:

• Disruptive technologies of digitization in Kenya
• The Kenyan government digitization initiatives
• The benefits and challenges of digitization in Kenya

Prof. Timothy Mwololo Waema gave a presentation on the 41st UNCTAD course on key issues on the international economic agenda. The presentation covered the following topics:

• National innovation system & ecosystem
• Vision 2030 & STI vision and mission
• National priorities Policy objectives
• Assessment of implementation status
• Concluding remarks Implications for other nations