Sen. Zargo Cochairs ECOWAS Confab on Free Trade in Cotonou -To Mitigate Challenges of Terrorism and Insecurity, Pandemics, protectionism

As a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, Lofa County Senator Steve Zargo was in Mail, Cotonou and attended a Delocalized Meeting of the Joint Committee on: Trade, Custom and Free Movement, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Public Account, Administration, Finance and Budget, in Benin.

Held under the theme: “African Continental Free Trade Area Prospects of its achievements within a context of cross border threats (Terrorism and Insecurity, Pandemics and Protectionism)”, the meeting of the Ecowas Parliament committee on Trade, Custom and Free Movement, co-chaired by Senator Zargo, was held from November 3-7, 2020.

The meeting was attended by the Speaker of Ecowas Parliament, Sadia Mohammed Tunis, as well as the Speaker of the Benin Parliament and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

During Day One of the meeting, Dr. Daniel Cross, professor in Banking and Finance, University of Nigeria, Abuja, served as panelist on, “The African Continential Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Challenges and Prospects of a borderless Africa in a period of terrorism and insecurity, pnademics, and protectionism”.

The President of the National Confederation of Employers of Benin (CONEB), Mr. Albin Feliho, and Mr. Charles Lougoudou, representing the Civil Society of Benin, also served as panelists.

Day Two of the ECOWAS confab saw Secretary General African Continent Free Trade Area (AFCTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, presenting on “The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Challenges and Prospects of a borderless Africa in a period of terrorism and insecurity, pandemics, and protectionism”.

The Minister for Industry and Trade of Benin, Madam Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, also made a presentation on “The Beninii perspective of Regional Integration: You are welcome to trade in Benin”.

Panel discussions were also held on, “Strategies for the effective implementation of the AfCFTA in the era of numerous disintegrative factors” with Dr. Daniel Cross, Albin Feliho and Lougoudou Charles providing their respective perspectives on the subject under discussion.

The panel discussion was followed by a presentation on, “The Benin perspective of Regional Integration: “You are welcome to trade in Benin” by Casmir Migan, 1st Vice President, Chamber of Commerce, Republic of Benin.

Day Three of the ECOWAS confab witnessed a presentation on, “The Role ECOWAS Parliament should play in mitigating challenges and facilitating the application of the AfCFTA” delivered by Tel Ronzi, Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement, ECOWAS Commission.

Meanwhile, our Tuesday, November 1-0th edition, The Analyst will bring details of the presentations and key recommendations to the ECOWAS Parliament.