The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has concluded the Technical Committee Meeting and CEOs of Investment Promotion Agencies in West Africa (IPAWAS). The event took place in Banjul, The Gambia, from September 16 to 21, 2024.
This meeting marked a step towards improving investment promotion and economic cooperation among member states. A key highlight was the validation of the IPAWAS statute.
The Gambia’s Honorable Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, officially opened the meeting. Key ECOWAS representatives also participated. Miatha French, the ECOWAS Permanent Representative to The Gambia, represented the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture. Discussions among CEOs were chaired by Madam Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Agency.
The formal ratification of the IPAWAS statute reinforced its role in regional investment promotion efforts. Member states committed to enhancing the capacity and coordination of their investment agencies.