The ECOWAS Commission has concluded the inaugural meeting of the Strategic Steering Committee for the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme – ECOWAS Component, held from June 17 to 19, 2026, in Banjul, The Gambia.
The initiative, funded by the European Union through the Global Gateway initiative and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) alongside the International Trade Centre (ITC), is designed to enhance the competitiveness of regional value chains while expanding market access opportunities for businesses across West Africa.
The three-day meeting convened representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the UEMOA Commission, the European Union Delegation, ECOWAS member states, Mauritania, regional private-sector organisations, and the programme’s implementing partners, UNIDO and ITC.
Participants assessed progress achieved since the programme was officially launched on June 17, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria. Discussions also covered the programme’s governance and coordination framework, the report on the selection of priority value chains, and the proposed six-month implementation work plan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Strategic Steering Committee adopted its terms of reference, approved the report on the value chain selection process, and validated two priority value chains identified under the programme: formulated complementary foods and pharmaceuticals.
The Committee also endorsed the six-month work plan and issued recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional coordination, broadening stakeholder participation, and improving implementation efficiency to ensure tangible programme outcomes.
Speaking during the meeting, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Kalilou Sylla, underscored the strategic significance of the programme at a time when the region is experiencing rapid economic and geopolitical transformations.
Mr Sylla called for the establishment of clear performance indicators and a shared commitment among stakeholders to ensure that the programme delivers measurable results by its conclusion.
He said, “By the end of the project, measurable results could be demonstrated: an increase in the share of trade, a rise in local pharmaceutical production, and a meaningful reduction in customs barriers.”
Representatives at the meeting praised the progress recorded so far and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the successful implementation of the programme to advance the interests of ECOWAS member states and strengthen the region’s private sector.
