©AfreePress-(Lomé, november 22, 2023)-The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has committed to boosting the competitiveness of local private enterprises, both within the regional and continental markets. With this aim, the organization has implemented regional standards and technical regulations to ensure the production of goods complying with international norms, further ensuring consumer access to healthy, environmentally friendly products.
In order to raise awareness among the private sector about the advantages of these facilitation measures and international recognition, the ECOWAS Commission organized a seminar on November 21st and 22nd, 2023, in Lomé, the Togolese capital. This seminar, headed by KABORE Lassané, Director of Industry at ECOWAS, focused on the framework of the Automotive Industry Policy and quality infrastructure, specifically targeting the development of four value chains: mango, cassava, textiles and garments, as well as information and communication technology (ICT).
Over these two days, participants from the 15 ECOWAS member states were educated and informed on various topics related to the automotive industry policy within the community space, ECOWAS quality infrastructure and its services, adopted standards and technical regulations on prioritized value chains, as well as the ECOWAS Quality Certification Mark (ECOQMARK).
« Recognizing the crucial role of the private sector in the industrial development of our region, the ECOWAS Commission, through the Industry Directorate, organized this awareness seminar to enlighten the private sector about the benefits they can derive by adhering to existing norms, becoming more competitive at the continental level, especially with the operationalization of the AfCFTA, » remarked Namalguebzanga Christian KAFANDO, Coordinator of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), highlighting the seminar’s significance for economic operators in the region.
Under the Common Industrial Policy of West Africa (CIPAO), seven priority industrial sectors have been identified, including the agro-food industry, agricultural machinery, construction materials, communications and electronics industry, pharmaceutical industry, steel industry, as well as the automotive and related industries.
The advantages of adopted standards for mutual recognition of activities were presented to participants, including industrialists, representatives from employer organizations, and groups specialized in agricultural product transformation.
« Standards enable companies to benefit in numerous ways, notably reducing production costs through standardized methods and streamlining input management. They also reduce post-production and recall costs. Standards promote customer satisfaction, as their implementation considers customers’ needs, satisfaction, and well-being. Thus, standards enable the production of goods that meet customer expectations and provide them with healthy products, contributing to customer loyalty. Moreover, these standards facilitate trade due to their harmonization, reducing trade barriers, etc., » explained Mr. KAFANDO.
Participants praised the ECOWAS Commission’s initiative to convene them for discussions on crucial subjects for the economic development of the sub-region. They also used the opportunity to present their expectations to the ECOWAS Commission regarding trade facilitation.
« I would like to thank ECOWAS for inviting us, the private sector, to this workshop. I believe it is always interesting to involve the private sector in these types of seminars to actively participate in all policy decisions made at the regional level. This exchange framework has allowed us to learn a great deal about what ECOWAS is doing to help us develop and be more competitive in both regional and continental markets. The discussions also allowed us to address the difficulties we encounter in commercial exchanges from one country to another. The objective of the ECOWAS zone is to allow the free movement of goods, services, and people, but this is not yet a reality. We face numerous tariff barriers. During this seminar, we tried to highlight this issue so that the Commission can address this concern and provide concrete solutions, as we have significant competitiveness stakes, » emphasized Lery Charge, representing the Federation of West African Employers’ Organizations.
For the National Council of Employers of Togo, represented at this seminar by Glé Kossi Amétépé, popularizing ECOWAS standards and technical regulations is a crucial challenge for the development of businesses within the community space.
« Our usual practices do not allow us to evolve. With these standards, I believe we would be more efficient and competitive, » confided Mr. Glé, who is also the president of Togo’s Industries Group.
Raphaël A.
