IsDB workshop in Dakar seeks upgrading intra-trade amongst African member countries

Dakar, Senegal, 22 February, 2017 - 27 ranking officials from 20 African member countries of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), as well as experts from regional and international organizations, gathered in the Senegalese capital city of Dakar, 20-22 February, 2017, to discuss the role of intra-trade routes in realizing economic integration amongst their respective countries.

The event discussed capacity enhancement through better understanding of the significance of regional economic cooperation and integration with a focus on the importance of trade and transport routes, better identification of challenges and obstacles. It also dealt with the best ways and means for development of trade routes and activation of initiatives by ECOWAS (Economic Communication of West African States) in addition to those of Southern and Eastern Africa regions.

Coordination amongst the IsDB’s African member countries to overcome the challenges hindering intra-trade also featured during the event.

The workshop came in the framework of IsDB’s program for providing technical assistance to member countries to further progress and secure regional integration into the multilateral trading system in line with the Bank’s ten year strategic program aimed at enhancing regional links while promoting and facilitating intra-trade amongst member countries.

The IsDB has been providing its member countries, including those in Africa, with technical and capacity building support in addition to training courses.
The President of the IsDB Group, Dr. Bandar Hajjar, has recently declared a strategic roadmap mainly focusing on increasing connectivity and cooperation for the sake of facilitating border trade, promoting regional economic integration mechanisms as well as customs cooperation amongst IsDB member countries.

Source: http://www.isdb.org/irj/portal/anonymous?NavigationTarget=navurl