E-business cooperation between China and West Africa: Investigating the risks and challenges

Abstract

The rapid expansion of global e-business, particularly through China's Digital Silk Road (DSR), is transforming international trade and investment in emerging markets such as West Africa. Despite the strategic importance of this region, the risks and challenges associated with China-West Africa e-business cooperation remain underexplored in current scholarship. This study addresses this gap by employing a mixed-methods approach integrating quantitative analysis of cross-border trade data with stakeholder surveys and in-depth interviews to investigate the political, regulatory, and cultural risks that shape digital partnerships between Chinese firms and West African stakeholders. Guided by the hypothesis that these risks are dynamic and interrelated, the research draws on institutional theory, transaction cost economics, and cultural distance frameworks to provide a holistic assessment. The findings reveal that regulatory fragmentation, operational inefficiencies, and misaligned expectations of digital trust significantly impede the development of resilient e-business ecosystems. Inconsistent policy enforcement and infrastructural deficits further complicate cross-border cooperation. However, the study also identifies effective mitigation strategies, including regulatory harmonization under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), targeted capacity building, and culturally adaptive partnership models. These insights offer actionable recommendations for policymakers, business leaders, and multilateral institutions aiming to foster sustainable digital cooperation. This research contributes to theoretical understanding and practical solutions for equitable digital partnerships in the evolving global economy by advancing a contextualized risk assessment framework.

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