ECOWAS small businesses propose rail network to facilitate trade 

MICRO, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the ECOWAS region, under the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC), have called for the establishment of a railway corridor linking all member countries to complement the existing road network.
  The proposal was made at the end of their inaugural exhibition and workshop, which ended yesterday.
  Organised by the ESBC in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission and Ivory Coast’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the event brought together small business operators from across the region; highlighting the challenges faced in transporting goods and services within the ECOWAS.

  They stressed the need for better communication and a clearer understanding of cross-border trade obligations and improvements in the movement of goods and people.

  While ECOWAS had adopted free movement of goods and people under existing protocols, it noted that such movements still required compliance with formalities and customs duties.

  During the workshop, members of the ESBC presented a range of proposals to address transportation challenges. They called for an end to cross-border harassment and corruption, which they attributed to the imposition of unnecessary taxes. They also suggested that local Small Business Coalitions (SBCs) should be empowered to issue certificates of origin to entrepreneurs to streamline trade processes.

Additionally, they proposed the establishment of online training platforms for SBCs to enhance their capacity to support SMEs.

  Despite the availability of financing mechanisms for SMEs, they pointed out that many small businesses struggled to access the funds due to inadequate resources and poor absorption capacity. 
  To strengthen SMEs, they suggested, among others, the creation of an ESBC television network to raise awareness, a dedicated bank for SME financing and the development of strategies to encourage a common currency within ECOWAS.