A photo exhibition organized by the National Union of Eritrean Women has been inaugurated today in celebration of the 33rd Independence Day anniversary. The event took place at the premises of the National Union and was officially opened by Ms. Askalu Menkorios, Minister of Tourism, in the presence of Ministers, senior Government and PFDJ officials.

The exhibition showcases the remarkable role of Eritrean women in the national struggle for independence and in defending the country’s sovereignty. It also highlights their participation in national development programs and depicts the atrocities committed against the Eritrean people by enemies of Eritrea.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

The Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the national and regional stakeholders of the agriculture sector, the African Union, and representatives of the sector’s six stakeholder groups convened to officially launch the fourth Biennial Review on agricultural growth and transformation and to start the conversation on the next ten years for the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy (ECOWAP) and Post Malabo Agenda. The event, which incorporated online and offline participation with a total of 98 participants, was held on the 16th and 17th of May 2024. It featured distinguished facilitators, experts, and ECOWAS officials in a detailed agenda to promote in-depth analysis, discussion, and action planning.

The Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of ECOWAS, Alain SY TRAORE, during his opening remarks, highlighted the importance of the Biennial Review process, setting the tone for the discussions with a subsequent presentation by Mrs. Fatmata Lucia SEIWOH, ECOWAP/CAADP Monitoring&Evaluation Programme Officer, Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Fourth Biennial Review Report, indicating that ECOWAS was rated for the second time as the best-performing region with five countries progressing well.

Regional BR Expert Professor Raphael BABATUNDE presented an in-depth analysis of the Biennial Review Report from the first to the fourth edition, the performance of ECOWAS countries in the four BR rounds based on the overall scores, and the assessment of the BR Process. At the same time, Dr. Mbaye YADE of AKADEMIYA2063 mentioned potential post-BR activities, drawing comparisons and insights to guide future strategies. During the meeting, Prof. Aminou Arouna, one of the regional experts, moderated an open discussion, which allowed participants to share their perspectives and provide feedback on the presented reports. The ceremony climaxed with the recognition of countries that were progressing well and the presentation of the two awards won by ECOWAS for BR 3 (2021) and BR 4(2023).

AU representative Mme. Panduleni ELAGO provided an overview of the Post Malabo consultations, conveners and co-conveners of the technical working groups, UPCOMING RECs-led regional consultations, and the support needed for the Post Malabo CAADP process. At the same time, Mrs. SEIWOH highlighted the perspectives for ECOWAP after 2025.

Dr. Olawale OLAYIDE, representative of the Post Malabo coordinating team, presented the objectives, agenda, and structure for West Africa’s physical meeting slated for June 12-14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria.

Several discussions were held on how to make ECOWAS and Member States perform better in the fifth BR process come 2025. The team elaborated on the need for policy dialogue, addressing data challenges, and strengthening the capacity of country agricultural data management committees. The Director recognized the efforts of technical and financial partners, especially USAID, European Union, FAO, and AGRA, for their confidence in the Directorate’s M&E team from 2015 to date in this process.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Senior Trade Officials from ECOWAS Member States gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, from 15th to 16th May 2024 to consider regional instruments towards enhancing regional economic integration and trade.

The overall objective of the 2-day meeting was to review, validate, and recommend regional trade policy instruments to the Ministers of Trade and Industry. In addition, the Meeting also considered the region’s participation at and the outcome of the 13th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13).

In his opening remarks on behalf of Madame Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr. Kolawole Sofola, the Director of Trade for ECOWAS, reaffirmed the Commission’s dedication to strengthening economic integration and tackling current trade issues. “Our concerted efforts today are geared towards ensuring our trade policies respond to the changing realities, and promote prosperity in our region,” said Mr. Sofola. He urged Member States to build on various regional, continental and multilateral Decisions and Instruments, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the African Continental Free Trade Area, as well as the outcome of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference.

In her opening remarks on behalf of the Minister of the Industry, Trade and Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anniete, Madam Zulaikha Abdullahi, Deputy Director – Intra-African Trade, welcomed the Senior Trade Officials to Abuja on behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and commended the ECOWAS Commission for organising the meeting. She expressed appreciation to Member States for their commitment towards promoting regional integration on trade. “The deliberations at this meeting are to set a foundation for the upcoming Joint Meeting of Ministers of Trade and Industry, where critical decisions will be made to advance our collective trade agenda,” stated H.E Dr Doris Uzoka.

Consideration of the outcomes of the thirteenth WTO Ministerial Conference, the status of implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as the status of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union were amongst the discussions in the meeting.

The meeting adopted a recommendation to establish a Regional Working Group on the Tariff Renegotiations at WTO, as well as to conclude a cooperation agreement between the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) and Member States aimed at strengthening competition policy and enforcement mechanisms across the region.

The meeting was attended by Senior Trade Officials from ECOWAS Members States, Officials from the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions and the WTO.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

At the conclusion of the three-day meeting of Tourism Experts and the Private Sector on the Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms of ECOTOUR 19-29, participants from Member States adopted several key resolutions. The private sector was tasked with formulating a request for funding for ECOTOUR 19-29 activities, identifying and seeking the support of Technical and Financial Partners (TFPs), and initiating and signing a partnership agreement with the ECOWAS Commission with a view to implementing a robust and sustainable regional tourism for economic growth.

For Member States, it was agreed to provide national classification commissions and structures responsible for resource regulation, and to organize awareness-raising sessions for industry stakeholders on the new regulations.

The ECOWAS Commission committed to organizing capacity-building sessions for national classification commissions and regulatory structures, establishing a harmonized tourism satellite account for member countries, disseminating and making available the new regulations to Member States, and conducting a mid-term evaluation of ECOTOUR 19-29.

These resolutions were included in the Final Communique from the meeting, which was adopted by regional experts on May 16, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. The communique was signed by the Chairperson of the meeting, represented by Mrs. Ruth NDAM, Director of Hospitality&Travel Trade at the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Anthony Luka ELUMELU, Director of the Private Sector at the ECOWAS Commission, speaking on behalf of Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, expressed heartfelt appreciation to all participants for their valuable contributions to the success of the meeting and their ongoing efforts in implementing ECOTOUR 19-29.

He reaffirmed the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to fully implementing the meeting’s recommendations, with the goal of transforming the region into a tourist hub that will enhance the regional economy and promote integration across the board.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).