The second Ecowas Business Forum commences today, Thursday 12, February 2009, in the Ouaga 2000 Conference Center, in the Burkina Faso Capital, Ouagadougou.

On the  theme "harnessing agricultural potentials through regional partnerships", the aim of the forum is to review the implementation of the action plan adopted at the first Ecowas Business Forum which took place in Accra, Ghana from the 29 - 31 October 2007. It also aimed at adopting concrete and measurable strategies to more effectively involve the private sector in the implementation of integration projects and programmes, particularly those concerning agribusiness.

Organised in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (SRO-WA), other international partners and the Burkina National Chamber of Commerce, the three- day forum will also feature the exhibition of goods and services from businesses in the Ecowas region.  

The forum itself, was preceded by a meeting of regional business groups on yesterday. The sub-regional forum will also adopt modalities to strengthen regional network associations like the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce before the meeting wraps-up on Saturday February 14.