The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged member states to adopt bold, harmonized policies that will strengthen Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Lawmakers underscored that MSMEs are the backbone of West Africa’s economies—creating jobs, fostering innovation, empowering women and youth, and boosting cross-border trade—yet many remain trapped in informality, limiting their access to finance, markets, and legal protections.
The Regional Legislature made the call on Monday, 27th July 2026, during the opening of its delocalized meeting in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. The meeting is being held under the theme “Empowering MSMEs as Formal Drivers of ECOWAS Regional Value Chains.”
Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, Co-Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Administration, Finance and Budget, and Public Accounts Committees, made these remarks on behalf of the committees at the opening session.
He noted that the informal sector’s contributions to economic activity and the labor force cannot be overemphasized, hence the need to empower it to thrive. Darboe stated: “Across our region, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises constitute the backbone of local economies. They generate employment, stimulate innovation, promote entrepreneurship, empower women and young people, and facilitate cross-border trade.”
Despite their enormous contributions, he said, many of these enterprises continue to operate informally, limiting their access to finance, markets, technology, business support services, and legal protection. “It is estimated that the informal sector accounts for nearly 90% of economic activities and employs not less than 60% of our labor force across member states,” he added.
While this demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit of citizens, Darboe stressed the urgent need for enabling policies that encourage formalization, improve productivity, and integrate MSMEs into regional and continental value chains.
He advocated practical policy measures to remove barriers confronting MSMEs and unlock their full potential within the sub-region: “Formalizing and strengthening these enterprises is not merely an economic imperative; it is a pathway to sustainable development and poverty reduction.”
Darboe further highlighted that the adoption of ECOWAS Vision 2050 provides a clear strategic framework for transforming the Community into a peaceful, prosperous, and fully integrated region driven by its people. Achieving this vision, he said, requires stronger institutional commitment and an enabling business environment where MSMEs can thrive, compete, and participate effectively at regional and global levels.
He urged that discussions during the meeting should go beyond identifying challenges to developing practical recommendations that support harmonized policies, improve access to finance, enhance digital transformation, facilitate intra-regional trade, strengthen productive capacities, and promote MSME participation in regional value chains under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Declaring the meeting open, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, represented by Second Deputy Speaker Hon. Adjaratou Traore Coulibaly, reiterated that MSMEs remain a major driver of economic growth and development in the sub-region. She stressed that empowering MSMEs can also help address insecurity across ECOWAS states: “When women and youth are empowered to contribute to economic development through MSMEs, insecurity is indirectly addressed.”
