Osinbajo Canvasses Inclusive Trade To Boost Sub-Regional Economy

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed the need to drive more
inclusive trade initiatives and expand intra-regional trade in the
ECOWAS sub-region going by the opportunities presented by the
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

Osinbajo spoke at the weekend in Abuja at the inaugural gala of
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade
Promotion Organisations (TPO) Network.

According to him, the TPO Network, established with the support
of the International Trade Centre (ITC), is an initiative of the
ECOWAS, trade promotion organisations in the ECOWAS community.

He added that the network needs to present a trustworthy
platform for cross learning and the sharing of knowledge and
information assets.

Osinbajo said: “The vision of our heads of state and governments
in resolving to establish this network (TPO) is to build a more
robust and broader economic space for trade and investment. A major
part of that effort is that the network serves as a platform for
businesses and trade promotion agencies in our sub-region to share
knowledge and business opportunities, and develop trade capacity in
our sub-region.”

Osinbajo stated that the network has world-class human resource
capacity to succeed in achieving its set objectives.
“The combined experience of the TPOs that form the network is mind
boggling. Second is our confidence in your resilience and
commitment, which assures us that beyond the tunnel of those
obvious challenges lies the bright light of a new era of trade
prosperity for the people of the West Africa region and, indeed,
the continent,” he said.

Commending the ECOWAS and the TPO network for the success of the
launch and its first annual general assembly, the vice president
noted that there is the imminent task of enabling the region
benefit maximally from the AfCFTA and other intra and extra
regional export opportunities.

The President of ECOWAS TPO Network is the Executive
Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun
Awolowo; while the Vice President is the CEO of Cote d’Ivoire
Export Promotion Organisation, Mr. Guy M’Bengue.

According to the ECOWAS, the TPO Network is a public-sector led
entity and will work in partnership with the ECOWAS commission to
drive inclusive trade development initiatives within West Africa
and beyond.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed the need to drive more
inclusive trade initiatives and expand intra-regional trade in the
ECOWAS sub-region going by the opportunities presented by the
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.

Osinbajo spoke at the weekend in Abuja at the inaugural gala of
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade
Promotion Organisations (TPO) Network.

According to him, the TPO Network, established with the support
of the International Trade Centre (ITC), is an initiative of the
ECOWAS, trade promotion organisations in the ECOWAS community.

He added that the network needs to present a trustworthy
platform for cross learning and the sharing of knowledge and
information assets.

Osinbajo said: “The vision of our heads of state and governments
in resolving to establish this network (TPO) is to build a more
robust and broader economic space for trade and investment. A major
part of that effort is that the network serves as a platform for
businesses and trade promotion agencies in our sub-region to share
knowledge and business opportunities, and develop trade capacity in
our sub-region.”

Osinbajo stated that the network has world-class human resource
capacity to succeed in achieving its set objectives.
“The combined experience of the TPOs that form the network is mind
boggling. Second is our confidence in your resilience and
commitment, which assures us that beyond the tunnel of those
obvious challenges lies the bright light of a new era of trade
prosperity for the people of the West Africa region and, indeed,
the continent,” he said.

Commending the ECOWAS and the TPO network for the success of the
launch and its first annual general assembly, the vice president
noted that there is the imminent task of enabling the region
benefit maximally from the AfCFTA and other intra and extra
regional export opportunities.

The President of ECOWAS TPO Network is the Executive
Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr. Segun
Awolowo; while the Vice President is the CEO of Cote d’Ivoire
Export Promotion Organisation, Mr. Guy M’Bengue.

According to the ECOWAS, the TPO Network is a public-sector led
entity and will work in partnership with the ECOWAS commission to
drive inclusive trade development initiatives within West Africa
and beyond.