By Joy Baba-Yesufu
The 4th Joint Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry concluded in Abuja with a renewed commitment to deepen economic integration, diversify regional economies, and strengthen cooperation in trade, industry, and investment across West Africa.
Held from May 15 to 16, the high-level meeting brought together Ministers from 11 ECOWAS Member States, senior government officials, and representatives from the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions. Discussions centered on fortifying regional economies amid shifting global trade dynamics, with a focus on structural transformation and private sector engagement.
Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, called on Member States to strengthen industrial capacity, adopt harmonised trade policies, and foster innovation to unlock the region’s full economic potential.
“Now more than ever, we must collaborate to implement practical trade strategies, scale up industrialisation, and position West Africa as a competitive player in the global market,” Dr. Oduwole said.
Key Policy Instruments and Recommendations Adopted
Following detailed deliberations, the Ministers endorsed several key regional instruments, including:
Trade
ECOWAS Trade and Investment Strategy
Cooperation Agreement between the ECOWAS Regional Competitive Authority (ERCA) and Member States
Industry
58 new ECOWAS textile sector standards (ECOSTAND)
Revised ECOWAS Standards Harmonisation Model (ECOSHAM)
Agreement on mutual recognition of inspection certificates
Updated ECOWAS Quality Infrastructure Scheme
Investment
ECOWAS Common Investment Market (ECIM) Council Procedures Manual
Regional action plan to foster investment cooperation and implementation tracking
Ministers emphasised the need for policy coherence, especially in the areas of digital trade, consumer protection, and regional value chains. Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Industry, praised the gathering as a strategic step toward recalibrating West Africa’s economic architecture through coordinated action and bold reforms.
Regional and Global Trade Priorities
In addition to regional policy frameworks, the meeting also addressed key global trade issues, with Ministers issuing the following directives:
Urged Member States to ratify the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement and prepare for the upcoming WTO MC14
Encouraged full implementation of the AfCFTA, pushing for Benin to finalise its ratification
Directed submission of revised trade commitments to the AfCFTA Secretariat by August 2025
Called for a regional strategy to address U.S. tariffs and eliminate non-tariff barriers under ECOWAS and AfCFTA frameworks
Recommended adoption of the ECOWAS Trade and Investment Promotion Strategy by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers
The meeting underscored the urgency of operationalising National Implementation Committees, strengthening monitoring frameworks, and facilitating cross-sectoral coordination among Trade, Industry, and Transport Ministries.
Looking Ahead
As ECOWAS seeks to reposition itself amid global economic headwinds, the Abuja meeting reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to a unified, prosperous regional market. By adopting strategic frameworks and aligning policies with continental trade goals, Member States are laying the groundwork for sustainable industrialisation and inclusive economic growth.
The Nigerian media and stakeholders are encouraged to amplify the outcomes of the meeting and explore the real-world implications for businesses, MSMEs, investors, and communities across West Africa.
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