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EAC and ECOWAS build stronger bilateral links to strengthen trade promotion

Bolstering Intra-African Trade

Abuja, Nigeria – June 24th, 2025 – The ECOWAS Commission and its Trade Promotion Organisations hosted a study visit by the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat from 22nd to 24th June 2025, in Abuja Nigeria.

This initiative supported the EAC and ECOWAS in fostering effective regional cooperation among Trade Promotion Organisations (TPOs) to achieve deeper integration, broaden intra-regional trade, and strengthen their trade relations with other regions.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) through the European Union (EU) funded EU-EAC MARKUP II programme, in partnership with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission, facilitated the study visit.

This established a robust foundation for enhanced collaboration between the two regional economic blocs, cultivating strategic partnerships and regional cooperation to bolster intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The visit included a high-level bilateral meeting between the entities on June 23rd, 2025, setting a strong strategic and political foundation. The EAC Secretariat also participated in an interactive dialogue organised by the ECOWAS Commission on the sidelines of its TPO Network's 5th Annual General Assembly on June 24th, 2025.

The ECOWAS Commission and its five-year-old Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network are especially relevant to the EAC Secretariat and the newly established EAC TPO Technical Working Group due to their similar institutional frameworks and governance structures.

The two Regional Economic Communities (RECs) share a strong commitment to continuous learning and developing strategic collaborative partnerships for deeper integration. According to ITC’s trade map, trade between the two regions stands at less than 1% of their respective portfolios (averaging $177 m in 2024). Meanwhile, a huge untapped export potential remains, estimated at US$ 159m from East to West Africa and US$ 169m from West to East Africa, which could easily be achieved under the AfCFTA framework.

Ms. Flavia Busingye, Director Customs and Ag. Director Trade, EAC said: “We acknowledge and appreciate the warm hospitality and leadership of the ECOWAS Commission in hosting this important exchange. As the EAC establishes its Trade Promotion Organisation framework, this engagement comes at a critical moment. Drawing from ECOWAS’s experience, we see great value in building a collaborative inter-regional platform that deepens trade linkages, strengthens private sector participation and advances the goals of the AfCFTA across our two regions.”
Mr Kolawole Sofola, Director Trade, ECOWAS Commission said: “We are honoured to host the EAC Secretariat as we celebrate our golden jubilee — a reflective occasion focused on our Vision 2050, which emphasises regional trade integration and private sector development as essential drivers of prosperity. Today’s meeting is not only strategic but also symbolic. Such collaboration and drawing of lessons about trade promotion and facilitation mechanisms are vital for effectively implementing the AfCFTA.”
Mr. Modou Mbene Gueye, outgoing President of ECOWAS TPO Network and Director General of the Senegalese Export Promotion Agency said: “I see this historical meeting as a new chapter for inter-regional trade integration, strengthening the links between ECOWAS and EAC. By joining our efforts, we can strengthen participation in regional and continental value chains, bringing tangible AfCFTA benefits for our SMEs”

Ms. Miyoba Lubemba, Senior Country/Regional Portfolio Manager Office for Africa, ITC, highlighted key factors that contribute to successful Regional Networks, including a robust resourcing framework, strong strategic partnerships, peer to peer learning of good practices from peers, as well as impact-oriented work programmes that respond to member TPO needs and deliver tangible business linkages for companies.

Regional TPO networks strengthen collaborative engagement and enable stronger linkages for strategic trade development and promotion actions including exchange of information about business opportunities; linking producers, buyers and sellers; joint business or trade missions and trade exhibitions at national, regional, continental and global level; exchange of experiences and good practices, and optimisation of limited resources.

The EAC Secretariat and its TPO Technical Working Group will have further opportunities to interact with national TPOs and regional networks of TPOs from around the world during the upcoming TPO Leadership Dialogue to be held on the sidelines of ITC’s first SME Ministerial in Johannesburg from 22nd to 24th July 2025.

The EAC Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission plan to continue their engagement, including by enhancing cooperation between their respective TPOs, using the study tour as a springboard for stronger collaboration among individual TPOs as well as among private sector players to catalyse trade between the two regions. Key next steps include the formulation of a substantive roadmap, which will include future trade and investment missions between the regions. The next meeting between the two entities is expected to take place during the 2025 Intra-Africa Trade Fair, slated for 4th to 10th September 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.

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