The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded in 1975.  Its mission is to promote economic integration in “all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial sectors, social and cultural matters.”

The fifteen West African States that constitute ECOWAS are:

            1)         Benin
            2)         Burkina Faso
            3)         Cape Verde
            4)         Cote D’Ivoire
            5)         Gambi
            6)         Ghana
            7)         Guinea
            8)         Guinea Bissau
            9)         Liberia
            10)       Mali
            11)       Niger
            12)       Nigeria
            13)       Senegal
            14)       Sierra Leone
            15)       Togo

The ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development are two main institutions designed to implement policies, pursue programmes and carry out development projects in member states. Such projects include intra-community road construction and telecommunications; and agricultural, energy and water resources development.

Mr Alfred Braimah, Director of Private Sector Development, ECOWAS  Commission led a delegation, to visit Malaysia from 18th to 22th November 2013 to attend the PIPOC 2013 (Palm Oil Conference) as well as to explore business partnership development opportunities between ECOWAS and Malaysia.

On 18th November 2013, MASSA Secretariat arranged a meeting for MASSA members to meet with the ECOWAS delegation to explore business opportunities in the member countries in the West Africa.   

YBhg Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MASSA  chaired the meeting.

(4th from left) Tan Sri Azman Hashim, President of MASSA chairing the meeting

with (left to right) Ms Evonne Chim, Sime Darby Plantation, Mr Yap Chen Chong,

Syarikat Jun Chong Sdn Bhd,  Tan Sri Datuk Seri Utama Thong Yaw Thong,

Vice-President, MASSA and Ms Ng Su Fun, Executive Secretary of MASSA

MASSA members and ECOWAS delegation at the meeting

ECOWAS delegation (from left to right) Mr Serge Bombo, Chair/Executive

Secretary, ECOWAS Trade & Enterprise Expert Network/Export Actors

Platform, Mr Philippe Tokpanou, Lead Consultant/Coordinator, ECOWAS, Export

Promotion &  & Enterprise Competitiveness for Trade,  Mr Alfred Braimah, Director,

Private Sector Development, ECOWAS Commission, Mr Enobong

Umoessien, Principal Programme Officer, ECOWAS Commission and

Mr Billy Gansah, Estate Manger, Okumu Oil Palm, Nigeria

Tan Sri Azman Hashim presenting a souvenir to Mr Alfred Braimah,

Director of Private Sector Development, ECOWAS

Group Photo (6th from left) Tan Sri Azman Hashim with MASSA Members

and ECOWAS delegation after the meeting

For more information, please contact:- 

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)   

5th Floor, Building of National Agriculture Chamber of Cote d’Ivoire,

Abidjan Plateau

27 PO Box 378 Abidjan 27

Tel./Fax: +225 20 32 9691

Email: contact@ecowas-ten.com

Website: www.ecowas-ten.com