A quiet but decisive shift is underway across Africa and the wider Africa-Middle East (AME) region. New data shows that companies are actively positioning digital infrastructure and policy reform as the backbone of future trade. What’s emerging is a picture of a region preparing to move from fragmented, paper-heavy systems to fully digital, interoperable trade networks.

At the heart of this push is cloud computing. Corporate leaders across the AME continue to treat the cloud as the essential first layer of digital transformation, with 77% of respondents naming it among their top three enablers. The logic is clear: without scalable and secure cloud foundations, advanced technologies such as AI, blockchain, and digital assets can’t be deployed effectively. Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have already become early movers, rapidly expanding data center capacity to keep up with growing computing needs and the demand for seamless cross-border data flows.

But technology alone won’t solve the region’s long-standing challenge: regulatory fragmentation. The AME spans markets with vastly different rules, digital standards, and levels of infrastructure maturity. That’s why Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) are suddenly becoming central to corporate strategy. In fact, the AME region placed the highest value on DEAs globally, 41% of corporates called them “very important”, as companies look for policy frameworks that can smooth out inconsistencies and unlock regional digital trade.

There’s also a strong appetite for wider participation. Three-quarters of corporates (76%) want more countries to join DEAs and harmonize digital standards. Regional initiatives such as Nigeria’s leadership under the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol are adding momentum, pushing for common rules, shared infrastructure, and the digital skills needed to operate in a modern trade environment.

Still, enthusiasm doesn’t erase reality. Implementation remains a stumbling block, with 57% of corporates saying they face significant challenges in executing their digital strategies. Uneven infrastructure, shifting regulations, and internal skill gaps all contribute to slow progress. To bridge these gaps, companies are increasingly leaning on external expertise, outsourcing to technology partners and turning to banks for guidance. The financial sector’s role is expanding, with over 86% of corporates seeking advisory support from banks to navigate emerging technologies and chart a clear transformation roadmap.

What ties these trends together is a sense of preparation. The AME region isn’t just experimenting with digital trade, it’s building the conditions for a large-scale transition. High demand for foundational technologies, growing alignment around digital agreements, and deeper reliance on expert partners all point in the same direction: a region gearing up for a more integrated, competitive, and digitally enabled future in global commerce.