The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is to launch a digital onboarding initiative aimed at integrating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the wider continental trade network.
The virtual session, scheduled for Thursday, 11 June 2026, is part of the West Africa SME Trade Facilitation and Market Access Programme (WATMAP). Operating under the theme “Leveraging Digital Trade Platforms for Market Access, Trade Intelligence, and SME Growth Across Africa,” the webinar is designed to provide businesses with the practical tools and intelligence required to expand beyond national borders.
SMEs and micro-enterprises are widely acknowledged as critical drivers of economic growth and employment across Africa. However, cross-border trade has historically been hampered by regulatory hurdles, a lack of market intelligence, and limited access to continental supply chains.
The upcoming African Trade Gateway (ATG) session aims to address these barriers by linking regional businesses directly to digital trade platforms, allowing them to exploit emerging opportunities under broader regional frameworks.
Organised in partnership with the Association of West African Legislative Correspondents (AWALCO) and supported by the regional parliament, the initiative specifically targets exporters, agribusinesses, manufacturers, and women-owned enterprises seeking to enter the regional market.
To qualify for the onboarding process, participating businesses are required to hold formal regulatory documentation, including a Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Certificate of Incorporation and a Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Export Certificate.
The event forms part of a broader series of activities marking the 25th anniversary of the ECOWAS Parliament, reflecting an institutional shift toward leveraging digital infrastructure to enhance economic integration and cross-border commerce within the bloc.
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