The ECOWAS Parliament has called for the harmonisation of regional customs procedures, import regulations, taxation policies and business registration requirements to boost the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, across West Africa.
The call was contained in a resolution adopted at the end of a week-long delocalised meeting of the Parliament’s Joint Committee in Cotonou, themed ‘Empowering MSMEs as Formal Drivers of ECOWAS Regional Value Chains.’
Reading the resolution, Co-Chairman of the Committee, MP Alhagie Darbo, said member states must fully implement ECOWAS trade and investment protocols, eliminate non-tariff barriers, invest in trade-supporting infrastructure and strengthen monitoring mechanisms to improve the business environment.
The lawmakers also urged member states to adopt legal, regulatory and fiscal policies that promote entrepreneurship, formalise informal businesses, encourage local value addition and improve the competitiveness of MSMEs.
They further called for improved market governance, greater protection for traders and expanded access to affordable finance, particularly for women-owned and youth-led enterprises, to enhance participation in regional value chains.
The Parliament urged the ECOWAS Commission to strengthen the implementation of its MSME Development Policy (2021–2030) through enterprise support centres, business development programmes, entrepreneurship initiatives and digital skills training.
It also recommended the establishment of export support mechanisms along major trade corridors and border posts to help exporters comply with trade requirements and reduce administrative bottlenecks affecting intra-regional trade.
The lawmakers stressed the need to harmonise product standards, certification and quality assurance systems, while strengthening the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, ETLS, to simplify trade procedures and promote transparency.
They also advocated the development of regional industrial and agricultural clusters, alongside expanded access to affordable financing through the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, EBID, particularly for women and youth-led businesses.
The Parliament pledged to strengthen oversight of the implementation of ECOWAS trade and industrialisation frameworks, promote greater political commitment among member states and forward its recommendations to relevant ECOWAS institutions for action. Source: NAN