This initiative comes after discussions between Guinea’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy and UNCTAD’s Director of Technology, Innovation, and Research during the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva.

According to a press release from the Guinean ministry, the goal of the meeting was to explore how Guinea and UNCTAD could work together, particularly in the area of e-commerce.

The Minister presented the current state of digitalization in Guinea, outlining both the challenges and the exciting potential for growth.

Guinea specifically requested UNCTAD’s assistance in developing a regulatory framework that would support the flourishing of e-commerce and in equipping Guineans with the necessary digital skills through technical training.

UNCTAD responded positively to these requests, expressing its commitment to connecting Guinea with relevant resources within the UN system to bolster both digital and postal services.

They also emphasized the importance of close collaboration between the Ministry of Posts and the Ministry of Commerce to create a thriving trade environment in Guinea.

This meeting aligns with the Guinean government’s ongoing efforts to propel the e-commerce sector forward. According to the Foundation for E-commerce and Distance Selling (Fevad), the industry was already valued at $10 million in 2020 and is experiencing a significant annual growth rate of 20%.