The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Desire Ouedraogo has assured that the organisation was set to approve the commencement of the implementation of a Common External Tariff (CET) for the region.
Ouedraogo stated this at the Preparatory Meeting for 2nd ECOWAS-Diaspora Conference with ECOWAS Ambassadors Group (EAG) in the U.S, which took place at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC in the U. S.
The North America Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was hosted by Nigeria.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Desire Ouedraogo has assured that the organisation was set to approve the commencement of the implementation of a Common External Tariff (CET) for the region.
Ouedraogo stated this at the Preparatory Meeting for 2nd ECOWAS-Diaspora Conference with ECOWAS Ambassadors Group (EAG) in the U.S, which took place at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC in the U. S.
The North America Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was hosted by Nigeria.
“As you all know, a Customs Union, based on a CET, is a necessary condition for the establishment of a free trade area between West Africa and Europe within the framework of a regional Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA),’’ he said adding that the body was adopting a regional approach to poverty reduction.
“Poverty is endemic in West Africa and the deepening of poverty is a real threat in some zones of the region.
“The poor performance of some countries in the region, with regards to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and especially poverty reduction can be traced to general slow economic growth rate.
“ECOWAS has been championing the regional approach to poverty reduction because of its firm conviction that such an approach is more efficient and effective. The approach is encapsulated in the regional poverty reduction strategy document,’’ Ouedraogo stated.
Earlier, Nigeria's Ambassador to the U .S, Prof. Ade Adefuye described the ECOWAS Commission as a vital organisation that would help to strengthen the economy of all states within the region.
He noted that the body had done a lot to ensure a co-existence of Africa, stressing that the continent would be better if other regions in Africa were as committed.
The President of the sub regional body also commended Nigeria for its support towards the regional integration of ECOWAS countries.
“It is our hope that this regional programme will strengthen national equivalents and upscale results,’’ Ouedraogo told the ambassadors.
He said the organisation looked forward to realising the 2020 vision of moving from an “ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of people’’ within a single prosperous economic space “in which the people transact business and live in dignity and peace under the rule of law and good governance.
“The vision is very ambitious and will need the support and sustained contributions from all of us to be realised.
“In 2007, the Commission was transformed from an Executive Secretariat to a Commission so that it can be better positioned to deliver on these mandates,’’ he said.
Discussion about this post