Friday, March 27, 2009
In this week’s edition, we brought to you, H.E Dr. Ajaratou Isatou Njie-Saidy, the vice president’s full speech on the opening ceremony of the validation workshop of the study on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and cross- border trade, the experiences of women traders and entrepreneurs, held recently at the Paradise Suite Hotel, in Kololi. Below is the full text of her resounding statement.
It is indeed a great honour and pleasure, for me to be here with you today to deliver the keynote address, of this very important validation workshop, of the study, on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, and Cross-border Trade, and the Experiences of Women Traders and Entrepreneurs, commissioned by the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre based in Dakar, Senegal.
First of all, permit me, on behalf of the government and people of The Gambia, to welcome you all to The Gambia, and to wish you a wonderful stay, in this beautiful country. I hope that you will make some time, to explore the genuine and vivacious smiles of our coast, and to savour the hospitality of the Gambian people. Today’s validation workshop is very important, for several reasons, and I would, like to commend the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre, for placing research, at the heart of its activities, and for its foresight, in dealing with the gender gaps and inequalities, in the ECOWAS region.
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
One of the major challenges facing the fight for gender, equality and women’s empowerment, in most parts of the lack of reliable information, and gender disaggregated data, to support advocacy initiatives, and policy formulation processes. In the ECOWAS Region, the lack of adequate gender disaggregated data, has hampered efforts, to develop concrete arguments that will inform policy frameworks, for the promotion of gender equity and equality. This has also made it quite difficult, to embark on programme initiatives that adequately address, the practical and strategic gender needs of women.
It is in this light, that I find this research initiative, of the ECOWAS Gender Centre, very timely and strategic, in providing the knowledge and data base, that is so critical, to the promotion of gender equality, and the advancement of women.
I am also informed, that this is the second phase of the study on cross-border trade, carried out by the ECOWAS Gender Centre, and which covered four ECOWAS Member states, namely The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali and Senegal. The first phase, I am told, covered four other Member states, namely, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo. This brings to eight out of fifteen, the number of ECOWAS Member States, so far covered, by the study, which I believe, can provide the empirical basis, for an authoritative discourse, on the gender dimensions, of trade in the ECOWAS region.
It is, therefore, with a sense of pride, that I commend the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre for this research effort, that will contribute, significantly, to the body of knowledge and literature on gender and development in the ECOWAS region.
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The theme chosen for the study, "The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and Cross-border Trade: The Experience of Women Traders and Entrepreneurs", is indeed laudable, and touches on the fundamentals, of the integration process, of the ECOWAS region.
It may be recalled, that the establishment of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), was predicated, on the objective, to promote cooperation and integration, leading to the establishment, of an economic union, in West Africa, in order to raise the living standards of the people, and to maintain and enhance, economic stability, foster relations, among member states, and contribute to the progress and development, of the African continent.
The core of the integration process, within ECOWAS, has been the promotion of regional trade, through market and monetary integration, and very close political cooperation, characterised by the free movement of persons, goods, services as well as capital. As part of this process, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, was launched in 1990, with the view to facilitating intra-community trade, through the creation, of a Free Trade Area (FTA) underscored, by the elimination of all forms of tariff and non-tariff barriers, on goods, originating from member States.
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Studies have shown, that the majority of people, engaged in trade, in ECOWAS Member states, particularly, in the informal sector, are women. Women are also key players, in cross-border trade, in the ECOWAS region, and account for up to 90 percent, of informal trade, along the borders of ECOWAS Member states. Women traders and entrepreneurs, are therefore, key stakeholders in the integration process, and are playing a significant role, in strengthening the ability of ECOWAS, to compete meaningfully, in the global market place.
In spite of their invaluable contributions, to regional trade and the economic growth of the region, women traders and entrepreneurs, engaged in cross-border trade, experience several difficulties, that not only undermine the potential of their activities, but also hamper the development, of cross-border trade, and the regional integration efforts.
There is, therefore, the need to examine, the nature of the challenges and difficulties, that women trader’s experience, at the borders, and how this affects their economic activities. Majority of these women, operate with limited capital, and have minimal turnover, and so far most of them, cross-border trade, is a matter of survival.
The difficulties that women go through, in the course of their cross-border trading activities, brings to question, the role of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, in facilitating trade, in the ECOWAS region, particularly, the cross-border trading activities of women traders, and entrepreneurs. After about 19 years, of implementation, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, needs to be re-examined, against the objective, of achieving the free movement of goods, in the ECOWAS region.
The ECOWAS Gender Centre, has set the pace, in this direction, with his study, and it is my fervent hope, that this workshop, will thoroughly discuss the report of the study and come up with concrete recommendations that will adequately address the challenges and obstacles, to the cross-border trading activities of women traders and entrepreneurs.
Whilst wishing you fruitful and successful deliberations, it is now my singular honour and delight to declare the validation workshop of the study on the ETLS and cross-borer Trade and the Experiences of Women Traders, and Entrepreneurs duly open.
Author: by Mariatou Ngum-Saidy