Lawmakers in the ECOWAS Parliament have called for the harmonisation of customs procedures, import regulations, and tax policies across West Africa to create a more predictable environment for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The demand was part of a set of resolutions adopted in Cotonou, Benin, at the end of a joint committee meeting focusing on private sector growth, trade facilitation, and macroeconomic policy.
Reading the resolutions on Friday, committee co-chairman Hon. Alhagie Darbo emphasized the urgency of dismantling non-tariff barriers and fully implementing the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to streamline cross-border commerce.
“We must improve market governance and protection of traders by reviewing restrictive practices and addressing unlawful harassment,” Darbo said, calling for expanded access to affordable credit, particularly for youth- and women-led businesses.
Focus on regional trade and border reforms
The parliamentary committee urged the ECOWAS Commission to strengthen the implementation of its 2021–2030 MSME Development Policy by establishing export support hubs along major regional transit corridors.
Key recommendations put forward by the lawmakers include:
- Standardisation: Accelerating unified product quality certification to ensure goods traded across member states meet consistent regional standards.
- Supply Chains: Encouraging local industries to source raw materials from within the bloc to reduce reliance on imports outside West Africa.
- Financing: Partnering with the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) to offer targeted credit guarantees and concessional loans for small enterprises.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Nigerian lawmaker Hon. Pascal Agbodike, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on SMEs, assured that Nigerian representatives would engage lawmakers back home to enforce compliance and address longstanding border trade challenges.
Add Comment