The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has called on the South-East business community to explore the duty-free platforms offered by the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to bolster cooperation across West Africa.
In a statement issued Monday, the minister announced a sensitisation workshop in Enugu, noting that the trade scheme “remains underutilised.”
She stated that “many stakeholders, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), traders and the public sector, are unaware of the true scheme’s benefit, eligibility criteria and implementation processes.”
This is despite Nigeria accounting for 36.1% of the total registered companies (3,146) under the scheme, with 800 companies and 419 products registered in 2024 alone.
The workshop, themed “Increasing Intra-regional Trade through ETLS,” will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at the International Conference Centre in Enugu. It is organised by the ECOWAS National Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Enugu State Government.
Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah, will serve as the chief host, while Odumegwu-Ojukwu will host the event.
The ETLS, established in 1979, is a cornerstone of regional integration designed to promote intra-regional trade by allowing duty-free market access for products certified as originating within the ECOWAS region.
”The effective implementation of the scheme will help reduce dependency on imports, encourage entrepreneurship and significantly promote job creation,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
The workshop aims to provide stakeholders with a clear understanding of the rules of origin, certification processes, and eligibility criteria. The minister stressed that the goal is to improve compliance, guide stakeholders on proper documentation, and encourage adherence to ECOWAS regulations, noting that “the processing of ETLS application in Nigeria is free.”
The event is targeted at entrepreneurs, SME operators, members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), NACCIMA, agro-processors, exporters clubs, and women in business.
Share On:
CLICK HERE TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC/VIDEO