Senior trade officials from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gather in Abuja to approve regional instruments promoting economic integration.

Senior Trade Officials from ECOWAS Member States recently convened in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss key regional trade policy instruments aimed at enhancing economic integration and trade within the region. The two-day meeting, held on the 15th and 16th of May 2024, focused on reviewing and validating regional trade policies to be recommended to the Ministers of Trade and Industry.

Mr. Kolawole Sofola, the Director of Trade for ECOWAS, emphasized the importance of adapting trade policies to address evolving realities and promote prosperity in the region. He highlighted the significance of leveraging existing regional, continental, and multilateral agreements such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the outcomes of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference.

Madam Zulaikha Abdullahi, Deputy Director of Intra-African Trade, representing the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment of Nigeria, commended the ECOWAS Commission for organizing the meeting. She underscored the need for collaborative efforts among Member States to advance the collective trade agenda and promote regional integration.

Key discussions at the meeting included the outcomes of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, the implementation status of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union. The meeting resulted in the adoption of recommendations to establish a Regional Working Group on Tariff Renegotiations at the WTO and to enhance cooperation between the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority and Member States to strengthen competition policy and enforcement mechanisms.

The gathering was attended by Senior Trade Officials from ECOWAS Member States, officials from the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions, and representatives from the WTO, signaling a unified commitment to advancing regional economic integration and trade within West Africa.