The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said that partnerships with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) will deepen intra-African trade and lift millions out of poverty.
Mr Jean-Claude Brou, President, ECOWAS Commission made this known at a webinar organised in collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday.
It was organised to commemorate the commission\u2019s 46th anniversary.The theme of the webinar is \u201dOptimising Sustainable Trade, Investment and Regional Economic Integration through Effective Partnership between ECOWAS Institutions and the Organised Private Sector\u201d.
Brou, represented by Mr Kolawole Sopola, Acting Director, Trade, ECOWAS, said the commission, in recognition of the private sector\u2019s role, created stronger framework to boost the sector\u2019s capacity for enhanced trade.
He said that the commission had also adopted more than 100 regional standards with 70 others under development on some products.
Brou listed mango, cassava, textile and garments as well as information and communication technology among such products.
\u201cThe growing importance of informal trade compels the ECOWAS to create a framework expected to engender more availability and reliability of up to date information on informal trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n