ECOWAS Reveals How It Will Achieve Vision 2050

ECOWAS Commission through its Directorate of Trade in collaboration with the European Union (EU) through GIZ has commenced a five-day capacity building programme for journalists in selected French and Portuguese speaking countries in West Africa on World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

The training ongoing in Dakar, Senegal is expected to educate and inform the media, as critical partners, on the efforts of Member States in the implementation of trade agreements.

Some objectives of the training programme include to support trade journalists to develop their understanding of the trade agreements, build their capacity to report and provide critical inputs on trade facilitation policy and to promote regional multi-stakeholder dialogue on issues relating to regional, continental relating to WTO trade policies and agreements.

In her opening address, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Madame Massandjé Toure-Litse, whose speech was delivered by the Programme Officer, Informal Trade and Competition, Dr. Sacko Seydou, while welcoming participants to the capacity building programme said trade facilitation is at the heart of ECOWAS regional integration and forms a critical component of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.

She reiterated the commitment of ECOWAS towards implementation of various trade protocols particularly the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation which was ratified by two-thirds of the 164 WTO Members.

She noted that at the continental level, the entry into force of the Agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is to create a single continental market for goods and services while ensuring free movement of businessmen and investments in the region.

According to her, a better understanding of TFA and AfCFTA by the media will help in bridging the information gap as well as raise awareness on the importance of the trade agreements to stimulate economic growth in the sub-region.

The component leader for GIZ, Mr. Matthieu Segard, in his speech, said GIZ is honoured to accompany the ECOWAS Commission and Member States in their various economic integration initiatives and to build understanding of the public in the programmes and projects.

He noted that GIZ through the Trade Facilitation West Africa Programme (TFWA) funded by the European Union (EU) has been working with stakeholders to improve trade and investments in the sub-region adding that GIZ’s support measures often require collaborative efforts with journalists, public and private sector partners in carrying out targeted activities to achieve set objectives.

He further stated that with new trade agreements and protocols, it has become necessary for stakeholders to be aware of emerging trends and to understand the implications for the national economy.

He reiterated the commitment of GIZ to strengthening regional integration for the achievement of ECOWAS Vision 2050.