Next Steps for ADAPT
Partnering on Trade Digitalization
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been strongly encouraged by the high level of interest in the ADAPT initiative and IOTA’s commitment to revolutionize trade on the African continent by establishing one, shared, public digital infrastructure.
It reinforces both the urgency of this moment and the scale of the opportunity to empower an entire continent to realize its full potential.
ADAPT (the African Digital Access and Public infrastructure for Trade) will launch our technology across 55 countries on the African continent with the potential of doubling infra-African trade by 2035, unlocking over $70 billion in additional annual trade by, among others, cutting border clearance times by up to 80%.
Participating in the ADAPT launch in Johannesburg last month gave me the chance to meet with many of our partners and potential partners in person, which I believe provides a solid foundation for a successful and meaningful long-term collaboration.
What stayed with me most were the conversations – listening, debating, and reflecting on how we can truly unleash the potential of trade across Africa and beyond. In particular, I was inspired by our meeting with H.E. Secretary General Wamkele Mene of the African Continental Free Trade Area, who has taken the lead in the implementation of ADAPT. His personal commitment to overcoming the many obvious obstacles to the execution was clear from our conversation. I am convinced that the leadership of AfCFTA will pave the way for a far more dynamic, equitable, and effective trade environment on the continent.
Another highlight from the launch in Johannesburg was the opportunity I was given to talk to the editor of CNBC Africa, Godfrey Mutizwa, on live TV about ADAPT and its implications.
Godfrey asked a number of relevant questions including whether this vision can really be realised, given all of the differing actors and interests that are in play in African trade?
To this, I say we are not entering into this naïvely. We know this will be challenging. We know there have been others who have tried to streamline intra-African trade in the past and failed. But, this is exactly why our partnerships are so important to us at the IOTA Foundation. With AfCFTA, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, and the World Economic Forum, we are working alongside organisations with deep experience and strong networks across Africa.
From our side, we are confident in the key factor for the success of the program: the technology works. Together with partners, we’ve already proven this through real-world deployments in Kenya, Rwanda, the UK, and beyond. Now, it’s about applying and scaling that success, together.
The foundations are in place, the business case is compelling, and through joint effort, I truly believe we can make this happen. The IOTA team is committed to doing the hard work in the years ahead.
So, what comes next? Where do we start?Already in the early part of 2026, ADAPT will launch in its first country. Later in the year, two more countries, including Kenya, will follow.
Please watch this video in which Sir Tony Blair, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Talkmore Chidede, Chido Munyati and I expand on the ADAPT initiative, the thinking behind it, and what it means for the future of trade in Africa.
