DIGITALISATION ET PERFORMANCE EXPORTATRICE DES PME AFRICAINES : UNE ANALYSE EMPIRIQUE SUR DONNEES DE PANEL
DIGITALIZATION AND EXPORT PERFORMANCE OF AFRICAN SMEs: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS BASED ON PANEL DATA

Summary/Abstract: International trade is undergoing profound changes driven by digital transformation, which is altering access to foreign markets, reducing transaction costs, and strengthening business competitiveness. In this context, this study analyzes the impact of digitalization on the business performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a sample of 20 African countries over the period 2014–2025. Using a random-effects panel data model estimated by generalized least squares, the results show that digitalization has a positive and highly significant effect on the exports of African SMEs. More specifically, an improvement in the digitalization index is associated with a significant increase in exports, confirming the strategic role of digital technologies in the internationalization of African businesses. The estimates also indicate that trade openness and exchange rates have a positive and statistically significant impact at the 1% level, reflecting the importance of trade integration and price competitiveness in export dynamics. The quality of institutions, for its part, has a significant positive effect at the 10% threshold, highlighting the complementary role of governance in promoting international trade. Conversely, inflation, political stability, and foreign direct investment do not have a statistically significant effect within the framework of the model used. These results underscore digitalization as a major lever for strengthening the international competitiveness of African SMEs. They suggest the need for public policies geared towards developing digital infrastructure, promoting digital payments, improving the institutional framework, and supporting SMEs in their integration into regional and international markets, particularly within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

• Details
• Contents