ECOWAS Parliament eyes MSME reforms to boost regional economic growth

Members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament are set to deliberate on strategies to strengthen Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) as key drivers of regional economic integration.

According to ECOWAS, discussions will focus on overcoming barriers that have limited their participation in regional value chains.

The deliberations will take place during the delocalised meeting of the Parliament’s Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Administration, Finance and Budget, and Public Accounts, scheduled for July 27 to 31, 2026, in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The meeting, themed “Empowering MSMEs as Formal Drivers of ECOWAS Regional Value Chains”, comes amid growing recognition of the critical role small businesses play in West Africa’s economy.

According to a statement by the ECOWAS Parliament’s Communications Directorate, the lawmakers will examine the opportunities and constraints facing MSMEs and adopt recommendations aimed at improving their integration into regional value chains.

It noted that the committee meeting is expected to provide a platform for parliamentarians, experts, and regional stakeholders to assess policy options capable of strengthening the contribution of MSMEs to economic growth, job creation and regional trade.

“The discussions are expected to focus on measures to formalise more small businesses, improve access to finance, remove trade bottlenecks and enhance cross-border commercial activities within the ECOWAS sub-region,” the statement noted

The meeting comes as policymakers across the region seek to unlock the economic potential of MSMEs, which remain the backbone of West Africa’s private sector.

A United Nations policy brief referenced in the advisory noted that MSMEs account for more than 90 per cent of all businesses and provide about 50 per cent of employment across the ECOWAS region.

Despite their importance, the UN observed that most MSMEs remain only marginally integrated into regional value chains due to widespread informality, limited access to financing and persistent cross-border trade barriers.