ECOWAS To Boost Trade With Development Of Strategic Policy Instruments
Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
As part of the formulation process of the ECOWAS Common Trade Policy-the ECOWAS Trade and Investment Promotion Strategy, and the ECOWAS Trade Fair Guidelines, the ECOWAS Commission, has organized a consultative meeting on regional trade policy instruments so as to deepen consultations with member states.
The consultative meeting held in Lagos Nigeria.
The meeting which brought together, Trade Experts from Member States’, representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, GIZ, and AFREXIMBANK, considered the key instruments as well as the proposed roadmap for the finalization of the regional trade policy.
In his opening remarks, Director General of Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Guinea Bissau and Chair of the meeting, Mr. Lassana Fati, urged participants to take into consideration the region’s ambition to deepen regional integration and economic development through, among other things, boosting trade. 
Mr. Fati, who had declared the meeting open, advised participants to propose actionable recommendations that would enrich the formulation and implementation of regional trade instruments.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Madame Massandjé Toure-Litse, represented by the Acting Director of Trade, Mr. Kolawole Sofola, recalled the directive of the Meeting of the 2nd Joint ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry held in November last year, to finalize the key Regional Trade Policy Instruments by June this year.
He urged participants to bring their expertise to bear so as to improve the documents under consideration. 
The meeting later agreed to continue with in-country consultations that would include both State and Non State to ensure a participatory process and promote ownership by national stakeholders, amd the -State Actors.
