In a bold move to strengthen regional commerce and empower local industries, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to host a high-level Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) workshop in Enugu, bringing together key players from across Nigeria’s South-East business community.
The event, slated for tomorrow, will serve as a pivotal platform for business owners, manufacturers, and trade experts to explore how the ETLS — one of ECOWAS’s oldest and most influential economic instruments — can be leveraged to expand cross-border trade and deepen regional cooperation.
First established in 1979, the ETLS was conceived as a cornerstone of West Africa’s economic integration, designed to remove trade barriers and allow duty-free movement of goods produced within the region. Over four decades later, the scheme continues to evolve as a vital mechanism for stimulating local production, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating jobs across member states.
According to Dr. Magnus Eze, Special Assistant on Communication and New Media to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, the workshop in Enugu aims to close the knowledge gap among entrepreneurs and manufacturers who stand to benefit most from the initiative.
“The ETLS Sensitisation Programme in Enugu is designed to build deeper understanding of how the scheme operates and to engage directly with stakeholders on practical strategies for maximising its benefits,” Eze explained.
He emphasized that effective implementation of the scheme could drastically reduce dependency on foreign imports, enhance regional competitiveness, and boost Nigeria’s industrial base.
Nigeria’s dominance within the ECOWAS trade ecosystem remains significant. Since the inception of the ETLS, the country accounts for over 36 percent of all registered companies under the programme — a total of 3,146 firms with more than 6,000 certified products enjoying preferential access across the region. Notably, 800 companies and 419 products were newly registered in 2024 alone, underscoring the growing enthusiasm for cross-border trade participation.
The ETLS Sensitisation Workshop, organised by the ECOWAS National Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Enugu State Government, is expected to draw representatives from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), SME operators, and various entrepreneurs across the South-East.
Beyond information sharing, the event aims to foster policy dialogue and encourage private-sector collaboration on issues such as non-tariff barriers, export readiness, and compliance standards for regional certification.
Analysts say the renewed focus on ETLS awareness is timely, as the region works to position itself strategically for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) era, which places a premium on competitive regional supply chains.
The Enugu engagement thus marks more than a sensitisation drive — it represents a critical step toward a borderless West African economy, where Nigerian businesses can thrive not just domestically, but as leading contributors to continental trade growth.
