The Gambian capital, Banjul, hosted a strategic forum on Thursday, June 18, 2026, organized by the West African Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) in partnership with ECOWAS. The event highlighted the private sector as a key driver of economic growth in West Africa. Drawing on its 50-year history, FEWACCI is mobilizing national chambers of commerce to develop a strategy that addresses ongoing technological and economic transformations. Discussions are focused on significantly reducing customs barriers in order to facilitate trade flows and strengthen commercial exchanges across the ECOWAS region.
Gambia hosted a strategic forum on Thursday, June 18, 2026, organized by the West African Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) and ECOWAS, with the aim of placing the private sector at the center of regional integration efforts. The gathering seeks to develop innovative strategies to remove trade barriers and stimulate economic growth across the community. Drawing on its 50 years of experience, FEWACCI is mobilizing national chambers of commerce to address current economic and technological challenges. The objective is to transform this institution into a more impactful driver of sustainable prosperity and economic development in West Africa.
“As you can imagine, FEWACCI existed before ECOWAS. FEWACCI has therefore been a powerful instrument used by member nations to strengthen regional integration. Today, with rapid technological advancements and development taking place on multiple fronts, it is essential for the leaders and chambers of commerce of West Africa to come together and reflect on how they can rise to the challenge, reorganize themselves, and define the strategies needed to become even more impactful, just as they were 50 years ago.”
Casimir Migan, Treasurer of FEWACCI – Benin
One of the major challenges addressed at this forum is the removal of customs and non-tariff barriers that continue to hinder intra-regional trade. It is estimated that nearly USD 10 billion in trade across West Africa remains outside official statistics due to these obstacles. Despite four decades of integration efforts, formal intra-regional trade has remained stagnant, accounting for only 10% to 15% of total trade within the region.
“It is about assessing what we have done so far and seeing what we can do to improve things. However, I do have a slight concern: those that already exist, I am referring to Ecobank and Asky, which are initiatives of the FEWACCI chambers of commerce and industry. We want to go further; today we are talking about the AfCFTA, while we still have shortcomings within ECOWAS itself. Since we have moved from 15 member states to 12, we still face quite a number of problems within these 12 countries. You have yourself observed border closures between countries due to issues of mood or opportunism. Let’s be honest these problems have not yet been resolved.”
Bakary Maguiraga, Elected Member, Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Côte d’Ivoire
Despite political challenges, West Africa is recording 5.1% growth and a GDP of USD 686 billion, serving a market of around 400 million consumers. The Banjul discussions aim to strengthen the ECOWAS area while also preparing regional businesses to take advantage of opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area.
