The SoS for Trade, Industry and Employment, Abdou Colley, last Thursday, 30th April 2009, launched the National Trade Policy Decision-making Committee at the Jerma Hotel in Kololi.

The inter-institutional committee is made of personnel from the Department of State for Trade, Industry and employment and representatives of stakeholders from the private and public sectors. The establishment of the committee was facilitated by assistance from the ECOWAS Commission and the Swedish International Development Corporation (SIDA). The precursor of this new committee was the Inter-institutional Committee for Mainstreaming Trade and Trade-related Issues into National Development Strategies (MATTRICOM), which, according to SoS Colley, "has achieved a lot in a relatively short span of time" since its creation in 2007.

SoS Colley expressed his happiness with the inception of the second phase of the ECOWAS Trade Capacity Building Project for 2008 - 2010, under which the formation of the new trade coordination was done. "I am informed that this phase seeks to consolidate the gains of human capacity by moving to enhance institutional capacity for effective trade policy decision. This effort cannot have come at a better time if the region wants to have an impact on multilateral trade," he told the gathering at the launching ceremony. Whilst congratulating the members of the Committee, SoS Colley warned them that a lot of hard work lies ahead but "with common purpose and determination, we will surely get there".

Also speaking at the launching ceremony, Alhaji Mohammed B Daramy, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry & Mines, Tourism and Free Movement of Persons and Goods, of the ECOWAS Commission, said: "Trade, if properly managed, could also enhance the achievement of some of the MDGs in our sub-region and may eventually lead to the gradual and smooth integration of West Africa into the global economic system."

The ECOWAS Trade Negotiation Capacity Building Project Coordinator, Dr Douglas Zormelo, who spearheaded the formation of the committee in collaboration with national stakeholders, also spoke at the launching ceremony. The ceremony was graced by representatives of business establishments, various government departments and civil society organisation.