By Ebi Kesiena
The Economic Community of West Africa States(ECOWAS) has conducted a training programme for Nigerian women, aimed at providing them with the essential skills necessary for engaging in successful intra-African trade.
With the theme “Capacity Building for the Federation of Businesswomen West Africa on Access to Regional and Continental Market under the trade regime”, the programme was held in Lagos, recently.
In her welcome speech, the President of The ECOWAS Federation of Businesswomen and Entrepreneurs, Alaba Lawson, stated that the primary objective was to ensure the inclusion of women from the ECOWAS region in the African Continental Free Trade Area, facilitating the smooth movement of our goods.
“It is imperative that we collaboratively address any challenges that arise and strategically position ourselves ahead of other regions in terms of AFCFTA participation.”
Also, the Trade and Private Sector Adviser at Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Raymond Dagana, maintained that, the Trade Facilitation West Africa Programme’s objective is to boost seamless regional and global trade by reducing time and cost barriers.
In the same vein, the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wale Cole, noted that the AFCFTA is the world’s largest free trade area, bringing together 55 countries of the African Union and its regional economic communities.
According to him, the overall mandate of the AFCFTA is to create a single continental market with a population of 1.3 billion people and with a combined Gross Domestic Product of approximately $.34tn.
Cole said, “This agreement would not work unless Africans are very committed to it. Countries outside Africa that have seen us dependent on them and have also seen us as those feeding them with their economies will not want this agreement to work.”
Meanwhile, he appreciated the African leaders who initiated the trade agreement emphasising that commitment was important to achieve success.
However, he added that external nations may not support it fully as it would lessen dependency.
He pointed out active regional and continental trade agreements, underscoring the need to also inform the private sector.
Cole stated that female-led businesses struggle with regional trade, which was why the LCCI had been sharing information and hosting workshops to improve access to markets.
