Twenty-first session of the intergovernmental committee of experts for West Africa

Abstract

The twenty-first session of the intergovernmental committee of experts (ICE) for West Africa of the economic commission for Africa was held from 27 to 29 June 2018 in Cotonou, Benin, with the technical, logistical and financial support of the government of the Republic of Benin. The theme of the meeting was “Regional integration in West Africa: New Challenges and Prospects”. This theme was chosen in a context marked by the potential expansion of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to include more countries. It is also marked by the proximity of the 2020 deadline set by ECOWAS for achievement of the common currency. Further, this choice also comes in a new era for the African continent and the ECOWAS sub region, with the official launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Kigali, Rwanda in March 2018.The twenty-first ICE session provided an opportunity for the participants to exchange views on the economic and social profile of the sub region and on ECA initiatives in support of regional development and regional integration of West African countries. It has served as a forum for discussing the challenges and prospects of regional integration in West Africa, as well as for disseminating the Benin STEPS profile. In concluding, the session made recommendations relevant to the development of West African countries.