Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The ECOWAS Parliament has called for the harmonisation of customs procedures, taxation systems, import regulations and business registration processes across West Africa as part of a comprehensive strategy to remove obstacles confronting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and deepen regional economic integration.
The lawmakers said creating a uniform and predictable business environment across member states would boost cross-border trade, attract investment and position MSMEs as the engine of economic growth in the sub-region.
The position formed part of the resolutions adopted at the close of the delocalised joint committee meeting of the Parliament’s Committees on Industry and Private Sector, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Administration, Finance and Budget, and Public Accounts held in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Presenting the communiqué on Friday, Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee, Hon. Alhagie Darbo, urged ECOWAS member states to fully implement regional trade and investment protocols, dismantle non-tariff barriers and invest in trade-support infrastructure to improve the ease of doing business.
He also called for stronger national monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with Community policies designed to facilitate trade and industrial development.
According to the committee, member states should adopt legal, regulatory and fiscal policies that encourage entrepreneurship, support the formalisation of informal businesses, promote local value addition and improve the competitiveness of MSMEs across the region.
The Parliament further advocated reforms in market governance to protect traders through transparent allocation and management of market facilities, accessible tenancy arrangements and the elimination of practices that hinder legitimate business activities.
It also urged governments to expand financial inclusion initiatives by improving access to affordable financing, particularly for women-owned and youth-led enterprises, to enable them participate more effectively in regional value chains.
The lawmakers tasked the ECOWAS Commission with accelerating the implementation of the ECOWAS MSME Development Policy (2021–2030) through enterprise support centres, entrepreneurship development programmes, business advisory services and digital skills training.
To further ease cross-border commerce, the Parliament recommended the establishment of export support and assistance centres along major trade corridors and strategic border posts to help exporters comply with trade requirements and reduce administrative bottlenecks.
The lawmakers also called for the speedy harmonisation and implementation of ECOWAS product standards, certification and quality assurance systems to guarantee uniform requirements for goods traded within the sub-region and enhance access to continental markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In addition, the Parliament urged member states to strengthen implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) by simplifying trade procedures, increasing awareness among businesses and eliminating barriers that discourage cross-border trade.
The committee further recommended the promotion of regional value chains by encouraging industries to source semi-processed raw materials and intermediate products within the ECOWAS region instead of relying heavily on imports from outside Africa.
To support industrial expansion, the lawmakers advocated the development of inclusive industrial and agricultural clusters capable of attracting investment, improving productivity and enhancing access to finance for regional enterprises.
The ECOWAS Parliament also tasked the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) with expanding access to affordable financing through innovative instruments such as credit guarantee schemes, concessional loans and risk-sharing facilities targeted at MSMEs, particularly those owned by women and young entrepreneurs.
The Bank was equally urged to support investment in industrial and agricultural clusters by developing financing mechanisms that would enable producers and value-chain operators to increase production and integrate more effectively into regional markets.
The Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening oversight of the implementation of ECOWAS trade, investment and industrialisation policies while encouraging member states to demonstrate stronger political commitment towards regional economic integration.
It also resolved to transmit the recommendations from the meeting to relevant ECOWAS institutions and intensify advocacy at national levels to ensure their implementation.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Chairman of the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises and member of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Pascal Agbodike, assured that Nigerian lawmakers in the regional parliament would engage the National Assembly to facilitate the implementation of the resolutions.
He acknowledged concerns raised by stakeholders over challenges at Nigeria’s borders, saying they would be comprehensively addressed through legislative engagement and policy reforms.
Agbodike expressed optimism that faithful implementation of the resolutions by member states and regional institutions would significantly improve the business climate, boost intra-African trade and unlock the enormous potential of MSMEs as drivers of economic growth across West Africa.
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