The Federal Government has called on business owners in Nigeria’s Southeast to take full advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme to boost cross-border trade and grow their markets across West Africa.
In Nigeria, the scheme primarily targets Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, as well as larger manufacturers, by giving them duty-free access to markets in the other 12 ECOWAS member states
Speaking at a one-day sensitisation workshop in Enugu on Tuesday, themed “Increasing Intra-Regional Trade through ETLS”, the Director of the ECOWAS National Unit, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olawale Emmanuel Awe, explained that the scheme allows goods produced within ECOWAS member states to be traded freely without Customs duties.
He, however, warned that the scheme does not permit re-export of foreign goods.
According to him, the scheme, which is one of the protocols underpinning ECOWAS’ founding vision in 1975, aims to achieve free movement of goods and services and foster regional prosperity through economic integration.
Awe stressed that businesses must, however, complete the required registration process to benefit from the initiative.
“Any businessperson manufacturing in Nigeria must first register with us. They will need to submit samples of their products, after which the National Approval Committee comprising the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade, SON, NAFDAC, Customs, MAN Export Group, and NEPC will conduct factory inspections to confirm that the products are genuinely made in Nigeria,” he said.
The Federal Government has been actively promoting ETLS across the country, organising workshops to sensitise business owners on how to participate and expand their markets across West Africa.
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