Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Advance Finalisation of Trade in Services Programme Workplans

The ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the German Cooperation through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), has held a technical working session to finalise workplans for 13 strategic reform processes under the Trade in Services Programme (TiSP). The session, held on 24 September 2026 at the New ECOWAS Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, brought together representatives of relevant ECOWAS Directorates, the EU Delegation and GIZ to jointly review and refine detailed workplans developed under the programme. The meeting followed earlier technical engagements on the review of the TiSP framework and was aimed at advancing the workplans towards finalisation and implementation. The TiSP supports regional integration priorities by strengthening trade in services governance, improving regional competitiveness and supporting the implementation of regional commitments under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Agenda. The current exercise focused on ensuring that the proposed interventions are coherent, realistic and aligned with institutional responsibilities and the strategic direction of the 13 reform processes. In his opening remarks,