The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network and the East African Community (EAC) convened their first-ever Engagement Meeting on Tuesday, 24 June 2025 in Abuja.
The three-day event, organised by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the ECOWAS TPO Network and supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC), marks a significant milestone in fostering inter-regional trade cooperation across Africa.
The meeting brought together heads of National Export Promotion Agencies from ECOWAS Member States alongside representatives from the EAC Secretariat. The primary objective of the gathering is to enhance institutional dialogue, promote mutual learning, and establish avenues for sustained collaboration between the two regional blocs in trade promotion and private sector development.
Throughout the three-day engagement, participants shared best practices in trade facilitation and strategies to boost intra-regional trade. A key focus of discussions is the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into regional value chains which is vital to accelerating economic development across both regions. Stakeholders are also exploring the critical role of Trade Promotion Organisations (TPOs) in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), facilitating the movement of goods and services, and advancing digital trade.
Other highlighted areas include capacity building and the establishment of inter-regional business matchmaking platforms, which aim to connect entrepreneurs, exporters, and investors from both blocs.
In his welcome address delivered on behalf of Mrs Massandjé Touré-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, the Director of Trade at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Kolawole Sofola, emphasised that regional trade integration and private sector development remain key pillars of ECOWAS Vision 2050. He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that will drive sustainable growth and economic transformation across the continent.
The engagement has set a new precedent for enhanced South-South cooperation and marked a step forward in the collective effort to build a more integrated, resilient, and prosperous African economy.
