Kenya has rolled out two innovative digital trade platforms designed to fast-track intra-African commerce by turning diplomatic missions into active deal-making hubs. The launch of BiasharaLink and Deal House was announced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit, where African leaders are prioritising practical measures to advance the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Developed by Real Sources Africa, a pan-African trade-infrastructure organisation operating as Kenya’s AfCFTA Trading Company, the platforms aim to bridge Africa’s longstanding “trade execution gap” — the disconnect between business enquiries and actual cross-border transactions.
BiasharaLink provides a centralised digital space for embassies, exporters, investors and other market participants to formally capture, organise and monitor trade and investment opportunities that align with AfCFTA priorities. Deal House, on the other hand, functions as the execution arm, validating opportunities, linking them with credible partners, facilitating access to finance and guiding them toward signed contracts.
Addressing delegates at the launch, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi described both platforms as a results-driven model of economic diplomacy that connects opportunities directly to execution, effectively turning diplomatic engagement into trade outcomes.
AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene highlighted the importance of strengthening Africa’s internal market as global supply chains face disruption and protectionism rises elsewhere. He emphasised that deepening regional trade integration is vital for the continent’s economic resilience.
The initiative also places particular emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses, offering them structured access to new markets and financing mechanisms that have historically been difficult to reach.
Kenya’s leadership in the project aligns with President William Ruto’s role as Chair of the AU Assembly Committee of Heads of State and Government on AfCFTA implementation and Co-Champion of the Digital Trade Protocol, reflecting growing national commitment to advancing digital trade solutions across Africa.
Private sector figures welcomed the platforms as a significant step in building an integrated African trade ecosystem, often referred to as a “trade superhighway” that seamlessly connects producers, buyers, logistics providers and financiers, reducing barriers to cross-border deals.
0 Comments