China-Africa Cooperation in Digital Economy Gaining Momentum: UNECA

Addis Ababa, November 6, 2025 (ENA) – The China-Africa cooperation in the digital economy is gaining momentum supported through various initiatives, UNECA Microeconomics, Finance and Governance Division Director Stephen Karingi said.

Addressing the seminar under the theme “China Support Africa’s Industrialization: Promoting Green, Coordinated and Sustainable Development” held in Addis Ababa today, the Director stated that ECA is supporting the development of domestic capital markets, believing that funds should be able to raise capital.

For the director, Africa must embrace the digital economy and emerging industries as agents of industrial transformation.

“So, for us as a continent to harness the potential of the digital economy, we need to invest in digital infrastructure, promote digital literacy, and also support tech entrepreneurship.”

The China-Africa cooperation in the digital economy is gaining momentum through various initiatives where China is supporting Africa's digital transformation, Karingi noted.

The initiatives include investing in broadband infrastructure, smart cities and e-government platforms, joint ventures in cloud computing, mobile payments and digital training to build capacity and also to bridge digital finance.

Affirming that Africa industrialization is not a dream, the Director said it is a necessity but it is not going to happen by chance. It requires deliberate action, strategic investment, and also bold leadership.

According to him, the Economic Commission for Africa is prioritizing the support of resource-based industrialization.

“This year, we are putting emphasis in supporting member states to build capacity agencies, and we are partnering with the African peer review mechanism of the African Union in its effort of creating the specialist body on the African credit agency.”

The commission advocates for the use of climate finance instruments such as debt swaps, finance, and budget development, among others, he further stated.

 “As ECA, we support resource-based industrialization to make the most of the immense endowments that Africa is blessed with.”