Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the ECOWAS region, under the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC), have called for the creation of a railway corridor linking all member countries, complementing the existing road network.
This proposal was made at the conclusion of their inaugural exhibition and workshop, held from November 21 to November 23 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The event, organized by the ESBC in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and Ivory Coast’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, gathered small business operators from across the region.
During the event, the coalition highlighted the significant challenges faced by SMEs in transporting goods and services within the ECOWAS subregion.
The group emphasized the need for improved communication and a better understanding of cross-border trade obligations, as well as enhancements to the movement of goods and people.
While ECOWAS has affirmed the free movement of goods and people under its protocols, it clarified that such movements still require compliance with necessary formalities and customs duties.
