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E-commerce, if given the right framework and infrastructure, has
the potential of aiding African countries and expanding the horizons of their
trading to a competitive level in the global village.

This was the consensus on Tuesday at the Kuramo Conference, an
international colloquium on trade, law, and economic development held in Lagos.

The conference participants agreed that with the right framework
and strategy, Africa can make a difference in her economic and trade climate if
she fully explored the benefits of e-commerce.

E-commerce is the buying and selling of products or services
over the Internet and other modes of computer networks.

Enver Daniels, the chief state legal adviser, South Africa, said
e-commerce has the potential to expand horizons of the African market.

Tackle infrastructural
challenge

However, for e-commerce to be successful, African countries must
address the attendant infrastructural challenges. Mr. Daniels said countries
must take up the responsibility of developing infrastructure locally, for trade
between countries to be successful.

“For instance, if you order for an item or items online from
Ghana, Ghana must have the right infrastructure in place that would aid the
movement of such orders to their destination, within the shortest time, and
Nigeria must in turn have the appropriate infrastructure to receive such
goods,” he said.

He added that countries must also develop their human capital,
adding that one of the major reasons militating against e-commerce success is
the lack of understanding of its attendant benefits.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said legislation must
also remove barriers to trade.

“A new legal order is now needed. There is the need to examine
the existing legal order for trade and commerce among nations,” Mr. Fashola
said.

He also challenged participants to set the agenda “here and now,
as regards the mechanism for a fair global regime.”

Emmanuel Ayoola, a retired Supreme Court justice and the
conference chairman, said it was a platform for the restoration of a nation,
and not another talk shop.

“It is a forum to define the path of a new national vision,
deploying application of knowledge and experience drawn from multifarious
disciplines as tools.

“It is the platform to launch the new order that is shaped by
right thinking, right values, right ideas and palpable commitment,” Mr. Ayoola
said.