Private Sector Directorate holds training for West African MSMEs on leveraging AfCFTA and ETLS to boost subregional economic growth and integration

The Directorate of Private Sector, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC), is currently holding a training program for West African Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) from March 10 to 15, 2025 in Praia, Cape Verde.

The training aims to empower the MSMEs, drive regional economic growth and integration, promote gender-inclusive trade policies across Member States, and prepare them for leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) opportunities in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050.

The President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, was represented by the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, who delegated Dr Tony Elumelu, the Director of Private Sector.

The commissioner reaffirmed the ECOWAS Commission’s steadfast commitment to empowering MSMEs as engines of progress in our region, while urging them to harness industrialization, leverage trade frameworks, and ignite investments that transform challenges into opportunities.

Declaring the event opened, the First Lady of Cape Verde, Mrs Debora Carvalho, noted that the training provided an ample opportunity for the participants to share their experiences with one another toward achieving the collective goals of economic growth and integration.

Cape Verdean Minister of Investment Promotion and Business Development, Mr Eurico Monteiro, pledged the country’s cooperation with ESBC toward achieving West Africa’s economic development and integration, going forward.