Did you know that only 16% of Africa’s trade happens within the continent? It’s surprising we still trade more with the rest of the world than with our own neighbours.
That really stood out to me during the Fintech Festival Tanzania 2025 where one of the most insightful discussions was on cross-border payments and how fintech can drive intra-African trade.
Just imagine this: a Tanzanian SME buying goods from an Ethiopian supplier, paying in Tanzanian Shillings through a digital wallet and the seller receiving Ethiopian Birr. This multi-currency infrastructure is what we need across the continent.
Fintech is at the heart of Africa’s growth story – mobile wallets, APIs and blockchain, all opening doors for trade, innovation, and entrepreneurship. For this to happen, fintechs need to collaborate with banks, governments, SMEs and everyday users to create secure, simple and inclusive platforms.