ECOWAS MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMES) FORUM TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF MSME DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA

The ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of Private Sector and Industry, will convene the ECOWAS Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Forum virtually from 6–7 July 2026 under the theme “Accelerating MSME Development in West Africa: Leveraging Trade in Services, Implementing the ECOWAS MSME Charter, and Shaping the Regional MSME Strategy.”

The Forum will bring together policymakers, MSME development agencies, business associations, financial institutions, development partners and entrepreneurs from across the ECOWAS region to discuss practical strategies for enhancing the competitiveness, growth and resilience of MSMEs.

Discussions will focus on accelerating implementation of the ECOWAS MSME Charter (2022–2032), expanding access to finance, promoting digital transformation, strengthening MSME participation in regional and continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and generating strategic inputs for the ECOWAS Regional MSME Strategy (2026–2030).

The Forum underscores ECOWAS’ commitment to empowering MSMEs as key drivers of industrialisation, regional integration, job creation and sustainable economic growth in West Africa.