AfCFTA Chief: Africa Needs 700 Data Centers for Trade
• Punch Newspapers • General News
Wamkele Mene, the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), announced on Tuesday that Africa requires 700 data centers to bolster its digital trade infrastructure. Currently, the continent has 220 data centers, accounting for roughly 1% of global commercial data center capacity, highlighting a significant shortfall. Mene emphasized that investing in digital infrastructure, including data centers and cross-border payment systems, is critical for enabling Africa's goal of a $3.6 trillion single market under the AfCFTA. He noted that the successful implementation of the digital trade protocol will accelerate growth in the region's cloud ecosystem and reduce reliance on offshore hosting. The African data center market currently operates at 360 megawatts, with an additional 238 megawatts under construction and plans for a total installed capacity of 1.2 gigawatts by 2030. This initiative is expected to improve digital integration and enhance trade efficiency, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Topics: Technology, Trade