The ECOWAS Commission and The African Development Bank Organize a Technical Session on Strengthening Regional Integration in West Africa.

His Excellency Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, President of the ECOWAS Commission, visited Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the invitation of the African Development Bank (BAD).

Accompanied by the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d’Ivoire, Mrs Fanta CISSE, and the ECOWAS Director of External Relations, Mr Jérôme BOA, the visit enabled the ECOWAS President to hold a technical session with the Bank’s Board of Directors, within the framework of cooperation between the ECOWAS Commission and the African Development Bank.

The meeting chaired by Dr. Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery of the Bank discussed the status of regional integration in the West African and ways to support it considering the latest developments in ECOWAS Region.

While commending the excellent performance of the AfDB over the years in financing the development of Africa, H.E. TOURAY appreciated its multifaceted support to ECOWAS since 1988 in domains such as agriculture, infrastructure, trade, and energy and called for an increased assistance to mobilize investment for priority regional initiatives, specifically in constructing the Lagos-Abidjan and Abidjan-Praia corridors as well as financing other key regional projects.

Regarding the issue of the exit of the AES from ECOWAS, the President of the Commission called for more solidarity while dealing with the 3 countries.

In concluding, both parties reiterated their commitment to strengthen their cooperation and agreed on more frequent meetings and further to work on improving the intra-trade with the involvement of the private sector as engine of growth.

The President of the Commission and his delegation were also received by H.E. Mr. Léon Kacou ADOM, Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. The two Senior Officials exchanged views on ECOWAS current affairs with a focus on the upcoming ECOWAS statutory meetings.