Experts to discuss West Africa’s common industrial policy in Togo

A three-day regional forum on the West Africa Common Industrial Policy (WACIP), will take place in Lome, Togo from March 28-30, 2012, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS has said.

The event is aimed at mobilizing national and community stakeholders towards effective implementation of the policy objectives in the region.

“The symposium will be held in two sessions, the first for experts from the public, private sectors and other stakeholders while the second session on March 30, will involve Ministers in charge of Industry in the ECOWAS region,” ECOWAS said in a statement.

Participants of the event are expected to discuss the ECOWAS Commission’s actions on WACIP aimed at reinforcing sustainable socio-economic development in West Africa and regional integration; ways of promoting exchanges and emphasizing the role of various stakeholders in mobilization around WACIP and its implementation.

It is also to mobilize the support of regional banks and development institutions as well as Technical and Financial Partners, for the implementation of WACIP and funding of regional programmes.

Reinforcement of access of manufactured goods from ECOWAS to markets, the ECOWAS agri-business initiative, ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, harmonization of business laws and development of a common ECOWAS Regional Investment Code as well as the Common External Tariff and the ECOWAS Free Trade, the bloc indicated will be deliberated on during the event.

By Ekow Quandzie