NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON THE USE OF THE REGULATORY AUDIT REPORT ON SERVICES TRADE UNDER THE AfCFTA

The ECOWAS Commission, through the Directorate of Trade, in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), organized a national workshop from 24 to 26 March 2026 in Cotonou, focusing on the use of the regulatory audit report on services trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for Benin.

This workshop is part of regional efforts to strengthen the capacities of Member States in implementing the AfCFTA Protocol on services trade, as well as to support ongoing negotiations and national policy reforms in this strategic field.

The workshop brought together seventy-six (76) participants, including public administration representatives, sectoral institutions, and national stakeholders covering various sub-sectors of services trade.

In his opening speech, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission President, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr. Kalilou Sylla, highlighted that the AfCFTA is “one of the flagship projects of African integration,” aiming to create a single market for goods and services that promotes the free movement of people and investments across the continent.

He also emphasized the central role of services trade, which represents more than 51% of Africa’s GDP, and serves as a key driver for economic transformation, job creation, and integration into regional and global value chains. In this regard, he highlighted the progress made in negotiations on priority sectors and the importance of regulatory audit reports as strategic tools to improve transparency, guide reforms, and support trade negotiations.

The Resident Representative further reaffirmed the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to supporting Member States, including Benin, in the process of validating regulatory audits, preparing negotiations, and effectively implementing commitments made under the AfCFTA.

Over the course of three days, participants will engage in technical sessions, group work, and plenary discussions focusing on:

The methodology and findings of the regulatory audits;

Analysis of priority service sectors;

Identification of barriers to market access and national treatment;

Quantification of the restrictiveness of existing policies;

Formulation of recommendations to support negotiations and national reforms.

The work will enhance participants’ understanding of the strategic use of regulatory audit reports to support policy reforms, improve the competitiveness of the services sector, and facilitate the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on services trade.

At the end of the workshop, concrete recommendations will be made to support the Government of Benin and the ECOWAS Commission in their efforts to promote a more favorable regulatory environment for the development of services trade.

The ECOWAS Commission reaffirms its commitment to supporting Member States in achieving the goals of the AfCFTA, to strengthen regional integration, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in West Africa.