ECOWAS Launches Regional E-Commerce Committee to Deepen Digital Trade Integration Across West Africa

New committee aims to fast-track cross-border trade, empower SMEs, and harmonize digital policies across West Africa

Ecowas Regional e-commerce committee Digital trade integration Economic transformation West africa.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has officially launched its Regional E-Commerce Committee, marking a significant milestone in the region’s drive toward digital trade integration and economic transformation.

The Committee, established as part of the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy adopted by the Council of Ministers in July 2023, aims to coordinate the implementation of digital reforms, align national policies, and foster inclusive participation in the region’s digital economy.

The launch was immediately followed by the Committee’s inaugural meeting, which brought together representatives from Member States, regional institutions, and key development partners.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Tony Luka Elumelu, Acting Director of Private Sector at the ECOWAS Commission, described the initiative as “a crucial step toward building a vibrant, private-sector-led digital economy in West Africa.” He emphasized the role of e-commerce in unlocking the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging stakeholders to ensure robust implementation of digital policies and reforms.

Chairing the session, Madam Sally Koroma, representative of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Sierra Leone, stressed the importance of harmonized regulations, secure infrastructure, digital literacy, and innovative financing to drive inclusive growth. She commended the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy for addressing key trade barriers and called for collective action to turn regional ambitions into tangible results.

In a goodwill message, Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), commended ECOWAS on its 50th anniversary. He described the launch of the E-Commerce Committee as timely and essential for achieving ECOWAS Vision 2050. He reaffirmed UNCTAD’s support for digital reform and inclusive growth, especially for women and youth in the region.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Madame Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, the Director of Trade at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kolawole Sofola, highlighted the significance of the Committee’s launch during the anniversary celebrations. He noted that the Committee would provide a platform to coordinate strategic goals and accelerate cross-border digital trade.

Ahead of the launch, members of the ECOWAS internal working group on e-commerce received training on the use of the e-Trade Reform Tracker, a digital monitoring tool designed to track implementation progress across the region. Both the training and the launch event were supported by UNCTAD and the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP), funded by the World Bank.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Committee’s terms of reference and a renewed call for collaboration among Member States, development partners, and the private sector to build a resilient, inclusive, and gender-responsive digital economy in West Africa.

The Regional E-Commerce Committee is expected to play a central role in driving the next phase of ECOWAS’s digital trade agenda, especially by empowering women, youth, and small businesses to participate actively in the digital economy.

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ECOWAS Launches Regional E-Commerce Committee to Deepen Digital Trade Integration Across West Africa

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