The Executive Director of the Federation of West Africa Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), Ambassador Aminou Akadiri has said the West African private sector body is committed to promoting cross-border trade, tourism, investment and access to markets.

Akadiri said this during his speech at the maiden edition of the AfriTrade B2B business networking event, organized by the CMD Tourism and Trade Enterprises held in Abuja. He said the business to business networking event was a game changer as it would provide the platform for business organizations across Africa to meet and share ideas. He said: “It is my great honor and privilege to welcome you all to the AfritradeB2B event, a trade and investment meeting tagged “Trading under AfCFTA: A Game Changer.” This momentous occasion, holding at the Abuja CCI, marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of economic growth and prosperity for our beloved continent.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed partners and organizers for their unwavering support and collaboration in making this event a reality.” 

Akadiri said FEWACCI was committed to using all initiatives to take advantage of current turmoil in the world to advocate for an enabling and conducive business environment in West Africa. He thanked the chairman of Economic Community of West African States and Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to support the regional integration agenda as chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

He said: “Let me particularly thank the ECOWAS Commission for accepting to provide technical and financial support through the FEWACCI platform. The ECOWAS support has been instrumental in laying the foundation for the success we anticipate for this event.

“As the umbrella body of private sector in West Africa, promoting cross-border trade and investment and access to markets, FEWACCI is committed to using all initiatives to take advantage of current turmoil in the world to advocate for an enabling and conducive business environment in West Africa and we highly appreciate His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his commitment to support the regional integration agenda as chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

“On the theme for the 2023 AfriTrade “Trading under AfCFTA: a game changer”, Akadiri said AfCTA represents a momentous opportunity to unleash the economic potential of our continent, fostering regional integration, and creating an enabling environment for trade and investment. Saying it was a platform that paves the way for enhanced collaboration, innovation, and inclusive growth.

 “As we all agree that private sector has major role to play in the ECOWAS and Africa integration agenda through the AfCFTA Secretariat and the ECOWAS Commission, with the support of the leadership, we will agree the role FEWACCI should play in this regard.

“At FEWACCI, we still believed that this role should include promotion of private sector development and participation in the integration agenda, investing in resource mobilization, productive capacity, Research and Development, as well as investment in infrastructure to take advantage of all business opportunity existing in this policy,” he said.