Informal Cross-Border Trade in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region 2023

Abstract

Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) in Africa is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of regional trade with a lack of accurate data hindering effective policy development and monitoring of regional integration efforts. In 2022, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), African export-import bank (Afreximbank), and Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Commission initiated ICBT data collection across select locations in the ECOWAS region. This project built on prior ICBT data collection exercises undertaken in 2019 along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. Additionally, it provided practical insights to the development of the harmonized continental methodology for ICBT data collection in Africa. This report presents the key findings and recommendations from this ICBT data collection exercise.