Africa’s Indian Ocean Digital Gateway |20 March 2026

Blue economy and island strengths drive Africa’s growth through a landmark accord

By Sunny Esparon

Seychelles has signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Continental Free Trade Area secretariat (AfCFTA) and Quest Ghana Limited, positioning the country as a competitive digital trade hub for Africa. The agreement was formalised on March 5, 2026, during AfCFTA secretary general Wamkele Mene’s official visit to Victoria.

High-level discussions with Vice-President Sebastien Pillay and Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade & Investment Pierre Laporte underscored the strategic importance of the memorandum of understanding (MoU). It establishes a secure, seamless, and interoperable framework for cross-border digital transactions, promotes system interoperability, supports micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and strengthens regulatory cooperation and innovation.

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