By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The ECOWAS Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC) is set to facilitate non-tariff barriers on intra- trade and free movement of goods in the region.
The third RTFC meeting which was held in Accra, Ghana from 27 – 29 March was to review the implementation of regional trade facilitation reforms and consider innovative approaches to improve free movement of goods in the region.
The aim of the meeting was to create a platform for the Committee to review the ECOWAS Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Elimination Policy and the Regional Trade and Transport Facilitation Strategy, to significantly reduce the challenges faced traders in the region and increase intra-ECOWAS trade.
President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo who hosted the experts noted that the 3rd RTFC meeting is to address trade barriers in the region and provide the West African region the opportunity to work together to form common positions, and effectively benefit from the continental free trade area.
Akufo- Addo urged the Commission and Member States to take advantage of AfCFTA to develop local economies and improve intra-regional trade in West Africa.
Secretary General at the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, and Chair of the Meeting, Mr. DJALO,
represented by Madame Massandje TOURE-LITSE, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, and Mr. Kolawole SOFOLA, Acting Director of Trade noted that trade facilitation is among the most effective solutions to maintain the normal flow of the global supply chain and mitigate the negative effects of conflicts and crisis.
He emphasized that the RTFC is a rallying point for stakeholders from the private and public sectors to deal with trade facilitation reforms which cut across various related sectors.
.
The Third RTFC Meeting was attended by Member States’ Experts representing the Ministries responsible for Trade, Customs Administrations and National Chamber of Commerce.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of the ECOWAS Commission and Regional Business Associations, also World Bank Group, the World Trade Organization, the German Agency for International Development and United Nation’s Conference for Trade and Development.
