The eTrade Alliance, along with Ringier One Africa Media, Jobberman, and the American Business Council of Nigeria co-hosted a Digital Trade Dialogue on June 30th, 2021, focused on promoting Nigerian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises’ (MSMEs) use of cross-border ecommerce, with Nigerian policymakers and local and international private sector leaders contributing their perspective and expertise.

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This event sought to support the engagement of Nigerian MSMEs, especially women-led and rural MSMEs, in domestic and cross-border ecommerce, by catalyzing discussions on:

 

• Challenges to Nigerian MSMEs to use ecommerce and cross-border ecommerce;

 

• Policy and technology solutions to these challenges; and

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• Pilot program ideas and policy initiatives to operationalize solutions to promote MSME ecommerce, including through the eTrade Alliance’s work, at local, national, and regional levels.

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Agenda

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Opening Remarks (15 minutes):

 

• His Excellency Honorable Niyi Adebayo, Minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment

• His Excellency Honorable Isa Ali Pantami, Minister, Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy

• Colin Dreizin, Director of the USAID’s Office of Economic Growth and Environment in Nigeria

• Margaret Olele, CEO/ES of the American Business Council

• Clemens Weitz, CEO, ROAM

 

Setting the stage:

 

Introduction to the eTrade Alliance’s work, and opportunities and challenges to enable MSME ecommerce in Nigeria in support of economic recovery (10 minutes)

 

• Kati Suominen, Founder and CEO, Nextrade Group; Technical Director, eTrade Alliance

• Massimiliano Spalazzi, CEO, Jumia Nigeria

 

 

Breakout discussions on policy and technology solutions and pilot ideas:

 

Breakout Panel 1: MSMEs’ access to secure cross-border payments and fast-disbursing working capital (60 minutes)

 

• Musa Itopa Jimoh, Director of Payments, Central Bank of Nigeria

• Ashley Immanuel, Head of Programs, Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access

• Oluwakemi Okusanya, Country Manager, Visa

• Chris Folayan, CEO, Mall for Africa

• Chijioke Dozie, CEO, Carbon

• Moderator: Betre Gizaw, Head of Legal and Regulatory, Paystack

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Breakout Panel 2: Ecommerce logistics, last-mile delivery, and trade facilitation, including through open APIs, blockchain, and digital addresses (60 minutes)

 

• Jason Blackman, Senior Director, Customs, Trade Compliance and Regulatory Affairs, DHL Express

• Jacqueline Rajuai, Geo Program Manager, Google Plus Codes

• Romain Poirot-Lellig, Founder & CEO, Africa Delivery Technologies and Kwik

• Olaremi Martins, Founder & CEO, Natural Girl Wigs

• Teniola Tayo-Olugbode, CEO, Tamak Logistics

• Moderator and speaker: Amgad Shehata, Senior Vice Present, International Public Affairs and Strategy, UPS

 

Breakout Panel 3: Building MSME capacity and workforce skills for the digital economy, including through scalable skills assessments and online training programs (60 minutes)

 

• Evelyn Obidike, Director Trade Information Department, Nigerian Export Promotion Council

• Clemens Weitz, CEO, Ringier One Africa Media (ROAM)

• Mamadou Biteye, Vice-President, Inclusive Growth, Global Social Impact

• Erica Libertelli, Executive Director, eCommerce Institute

• Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi, Founder and Executive Director, Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC)

• Moderator: Rolake Rosiji, CEO, Jobberman Nigeria

 

Breakout Panel 4: Digital trade policies for MSME ecommerce: business and policy perspectives and global best practices (60 minutes)

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• Charles Murito, Director, Sub Saharan Africa, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Google

• Serge Ntamack, Government Affairs Director, Microsoft

• Barbara Kostchwar, Executive Director, Visa Economic Empowerment Institute

• Olubunmi Osuntuyi, Secretary-General, International Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria

• Moderator: Kati Suominen, Founder and CEO, Nextrade Group

 

Moderators report back (15 minutes)

 

Open dialogue and reflections on next steps (15 minutes)

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