West African Economic Community Establishes Digital Trade Promotion Committee for Enhanced E-Commerce in the Region
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a significant step towards accelerating digital trade integration and implementing the ECOWAS Regional E-Commerce Strategy (2023-2027), with the launch of the Regional E-Commerce Committee. The committee was unveiled on Wednesday, July 16th, 2025, during the 50th Anniversary celebrations of ECOWAS in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Regional E-Commerce Committee serves as a central feature of the governance framework outlined in the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy, which was adopted by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in July 2023. The committee's primary focus is on the inclusive and sustainable digital future of West Africa.
Madam Sally Koroma, the representative of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Sierra Leone, emphasized the importance of harmonized regulations, secure infrastructure, digital literacy, and tailored financing to unlock the full benefits of digital trade. The committee's objectives include coordinating policy alignment across member states, promoting private-sector-led digital economies, fostering inclusive participation, and enhancing digital infrastructure.
The committee is designed to steer the implementation of digital trade reforms, foster inter-institutional coordination, and promote inclusive participation across the region. The launch and first meeting were attended by representatives of the Ministries responsible for Trade from ECOWAS Member States and the internal working group on e-commerce.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the terms of reference for the Committee and a call for continued collaboration among ECOWAS Member States to promote the implementation of the E-Commerce Strategy. The internal working group on e-commerce received a training on the e-Trade Reform Tracker prior to the launch, a tool that will be used to monitor progress, improve coordination, and enhance accountability in implementing digital trade reforms.
The launch and subsequent activities were supported by the UNCTAD and the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP) funded by the World Bank. Dr. Elumelu, the Acting Director of Private Sector at ECOWAS Commission, stressed the importance of e-commerce in unlocking opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Mr. Kolawole SOFOLA, Director of Trade of the ECOWAS Commission, gave a keynote address during the launch, while Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), celebrated the adoption of the ECOWAS Regional E-Commerce Strategy and reaffirmed UNCTAD's commitment to support digital reform, encourage inclusive digital ecosystems, and advance women's economic empowerment within the region.
The Regional E-Commerce Committee is a strategic effort by ECOWAS to leverage e-commerce for inclusive growth, accelerate the digital economy under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and transform West Africa’s trade landscape through harmonized reforms and integration.
[1] ECOWAS Council of Ministers Adopts ECOWAS Regional E-Commerce Strategy
[2] ECOWAS Launches Regional E-Commerce Committee
[3] ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy: A Step Towards Digital Integration
[4] UNCTAD and ECOWAS Partner to Boost E-Commerce in West Africa
[1] A critical component of the ECOWAS Regional E-Commerce Strategy, as adopted by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, is the focus on tailored finance and infrastructure development to foster and ensure the sustainability of West Africa's private-sector-led digital economies.
[2] In order to steer the implementation of digital trade reforms and enhance accountability, the Regional E-Commerce Committee, revealed during the 50th Anniversary celebrations of ECOWAS, has been established to promote inter-institutional coordination and encourage inclusive participation across the region.
