COMESA and ECOWAS agree to expand their trade, investment ties in a new pact

NAIROBI, Kenya - The International Trade Centre (ITC] has partnered with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regions for better and more trade and investment opportunities.

This is part of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP) implemented by ITC, a joint networking event that manifested investment opportunities in targeted sectors and value chains while fostering stronger partnerships between the two regions.

The aim of this new pact is to promote agencies from the ECOWAS region and regional business associations, and also serve as a knowledge-exchange platform, with delegates expressing their commitment to working together to enhance cooperation and forge mutually beneficial partnerships between the ECOWAS and COMESA business communities.

The same West Africa delegation will attend the COMESA Business Forum on 7 June 2023. The presence of key stakeholders, including the COMESA Business Council and the COMESA Regional Investment Agency, underscored the dedication to fostering economic growth and development in both regions.

Through this stronger partnership between the ECOWAS and COMESA business communities, are going to see trade-led growth led by small businesses. Eddy Yagambaram Soobramanien, CEO, of COMESA Business Council (CBC) also expressed his sentiments “In the face of increased competition to attract international businesses, West African countries arguably have a strong card to play.

To the extent that investors are well aware of all of these positive developments, international businesses ready to settle in the region will undoubtedly enjoy great returns, while being part of a collective journey towards greater economic and social vibrancy and the emergence of a dominant economic player in Africa and beyond.

Akadiri Aminou, CEO, of the Federation of West Africa Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), “It is expected that at the end of the forum, there will be better knowledge and increased awareness among business actors from the COMESA region of the investment opportunities in the ECOWAS and also we expect the establishment of linkages and connections that will lay the groundwork/facilitate potential investment partnerships between relevant ECOWAS region actors and COMESA investors.” While Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director of, the International Trade Centre pointed out that, it's time to rethink intra-Africa trade models.

”Businesses are the drivers of sustainable economic development, not just between these two regional blocs, but across Africa as a whole. Through this stronger partnership between the ECOWAS and COMESA business communities, we are going to see trade-led growth led by small businesses – and we at ITC look forward to continuing to support these efforts.”