The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the European Union (EU), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the International Trade Centre (ITC), officially launched the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) – ECOWAS Programme.
The €50 million EU-funded regional initiative is designed to enhance trade competitiveness, strengthen regional quality infrastructure, and boost intra-African and Africa–EU trade.
The ATCMA–ECOWAS Programme was launched as part of the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebrations, reinforcing the strategic alignment between regional integration, economic transformation, and the Africa–EU Partnership.
Three other regional programmes co-financed by the EU, Germany, and Spain, were also launched at the ceremony that brought together more than 120 senior officials and development partners from West Africa and Europe. Senior ECOWAS officials, Ambassadors and representatives of EU Member States, the African Union Commission, Ambassadors and Chargés d’Affaires from ECOWAS Member States, senior officials from UN agencies, and other international development stakeholders attended the ceremony. The event also featured broad virtual participation, enabling wider stakeholder engagement across the region.
In addition to the launch ceremony, a technical meeting was also held between ECOWAS, the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, UNIDO, and ITC to coordinate the programme’s operational framework and strategic implementation.
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