Equity Group Managing Director and CEO James Mwangi has called for greater use of technology to expand trade across Africa, citing digital systems as a vital driver of cross-border business and economic growth on the continent.
Mwangi made the remarks during a Tech Breakfast organized by Equity Group on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, where leaders from government, finance, and the technology sector gathered to discuss Africa’s digital future.
He said Africa’s ability to grow its economies and deepen intra-African trade will depend largely on how well countries integrate technology with financial services to support businesses and unlock new markets.
“We need an intersection of technology and money,” Dr. James Mwangi said. “We want to enable trade across the continent and create platforms that empower businesses and entrepreneurs to scale.”
James Mwangi Calls for Scaling Africa’s Digital Economy
The meeting, held under the theme “From Fintech to Futuretech: Scaling Africa’s Digital Economy,” focused on strengthening digital infrastructure and promoting collaboration between public- and private-sector players to drive long-term economic growth.
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James Mwangi said that scaling Africa’s digital economy will require continued investment in innovation and systems that expand financial inclusion, especially for small businesses and young entrepreneurs who face challenges accessing capital and markets.
He said Africa’s large youth population presents an opportunity to build a dynamic digital economy if supported with the right tools, skills, and platforms that promote enterprise development and participation in regional trade.
He also stated the importance of institutions working together to build shared infrastructure that supports cross-border transactions and improves trade efficiency across African markets.
Focus on Digital Infrastructure and Innovation
Participants at the forum also explored the role of emerging technologies such as blockchain, digital assets, and decentralized systems in improving transparency, reducing transaction costs, and expanding access to financial services across the continent.
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Discussions showed how such technologies could help address long-standing challenges in cross-border payments, trade financing, and regulatory coordination, which have often slowed down intra-African trade.
Rwanda’s Minister for ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, said African countries must take a deliberate approach in shaping their digital transformation by investing in systems that create value for local economies and citizens.
“We need to start setting the pace on how technology empowers us and builds value for our people,” she said. “Every generation of technology has promised inclusion. We now need to embrace these technologies intentionally and work together to build systems that truly expand opportunity.”
