The Executive Director, Federation Of West Africa Chambers Of Commerce And Industry (FEWACCI), Ambassador Aminou Akadiri, has said the just concluded AFRITrade B2B held in the nation’s capital, Abuja, will serve as a catalyst for mutually beneficial business partnerships and a vehicle for increasing the volume of trade within the West African sub-region.
Speaking on the theme: “Trading under AfCFTA: A Game Changer”, Amb. Akadiri said FEWACCI is committed to using all initiatives to take advantage of current turmoil in the world to advocate for an enabling and conducive business environment in West Africa, as the umbrella body of Private Sector in the sub-region, while promoting cross-border trade and investment and access to markets.
According to him, the African Continental Free Trade Area, (AfCFTA) represents a momentous opportunity to unleash the economic potential of the African continent, fostering regional integration, and creating an enabling environment for trade and investment adding that it is a platform that paves the way for enhanced collaboration, innovation, and inclusive growth.
Akadiri commended the partners of FEWACCI and the organizers for making the event a reality.
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He lauded the ECOWAS Commission for accepting to provide technical and financial support through the FEWACCI platform adding that it has been instrumental in laying the foundation for the success we anticipate for this event.
“As the Umbrella body of Private Sector in West Africa, promoting cross-border trade and investment and access to markets, FEWACCI is committed to using all initiatives to take advantage of current turmoil in the world to advocate for an enabling and conducive business environment in West Africa and we highly appreciate His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his commitment to support the regional integration agenda as chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
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“AfCFTA represents a momentous opportunity to unleash the economic potential of our continent, fostering regional integration, and creating an enabling environment for trade and investment. It is a platform that paves the way for enhanced collaboration, innovation, and inclusive growth.
“As we all agree that Private Sector has major role to play in the ECOWAS and Africa integration agenda through the AfCFTA Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission, with the support of the leadership, we will agree the role FEWACCI should play in this regard.
“At FEWACCI, we still believed that this role should include promotion of Private Sector development and participation in the integration agenda, investing in resource mobilization, productive capacity, Research and Development, as well as investment in infrastructure to take advantage of all business opportunity existing in this policy.
“Considering the high profile of participants, we believe that the 1st edition of this event will facilitate strategic connections and serve as a catalyst for mutually beneficial business partnerships. It will also serve as vehicle for increasing the volume of trade within our sub-region, contributing to the broader narrative of Africa’s economic resurgence.” He said.
