Sub regional leaders, policy experts and business representatives have gathered in Abidjan for a pivotal consultative meeting on the future of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as the bloc approaches its 50th anniversary.
The four-day session, which began on March 3, 2026, comes ahead of a major summit dedicated to reshaping the regional body’s long-term direction.
Opening the discussions, Ivorian Minister of African Integration Adama Dosso acknowledged that regional economic integration has yet to reach its full promise.
Data presented at the meeting revealed that intra-ECOWAS trade accounted for just 5.7% of total regional trade in 2024 and has remained below 15% for decades, highlighting deep structural weaknesses.
Participants pointed to persistent non-tariff barriers, fragmented markets and heavy reliance on raw material exports as key constraints limiting resilience, job creation and the region’s ability to withstand global shocks.
As the second-largest economy in ECOWAS after Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire is championing an ambitious five-pillar reform agenda centered on completing the common market.
Priority measures include removing non-tariff barriers along ten strategic trade corridors such as Abidjan–Lagos and Dakar–Bamako, supported by greater digitalization of customs systems.
Authorities are also advocating targeted industrialization in high-potential sectors including agro-processing, textiles, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy, alongside the creation of a Community Incentive Framework and an annual Investors Forum.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, head of the Trade Liberalization Scheme Task Force, warned of mounting risks from global trade tensions, climate disruptions and rising debt, while private sector representatives stressed the untapped potential of a 400-million-strong consumer market.
As deliberations continue, the central objective remains clear: transform ECOWAS from a rules-based institution into a dynamic engine of inclusive growth, supported by improved data systems and better integration of informal cross-border trade.
