In a bid to boost intra-regional trade and free movement within West Africa, ECOWAS is hosting a crucial workshop in Cotonou, Benin, to validate an integrated Trade and Transport Facilitation Framework for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project.
The three-day technical meeting has brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, transport experts, and international financiers like the African Development Bank and the European Union.
Discussions center on eliminating trade barriers, reducing border delays, and enhancing the digitalisation of customs procedures across the corridor, which connects Abidjan, Accra, Lomé, Cotonou, and Lagos.
According to ECOWAS Transport Director Chris Appiah, the framework aims to create a seamless six-lane highway network, integrating economic hubs and ensuring that member states fully benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Once completed, the project is expected to stimulate economic growth, facilitate trade, and improve livelihoods across the region.
With ECOWAS marking its 50th anniversary this year, the workshop reinforces its commitment to regional integration and economic development.
Stakeholders are now calling for stronger political backing to implement the proposed reforms and remove obstacles hindering cross-border trade.
