Draft Resolution on the Revival of the Federation of West African - PDF document

Draft Resolution on the Revival of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce (FWACC) The National Chambers of Commerce and Industry of ECOWAS Member States meeting on the margins of the First ECOWAS Business Forum held in Accra, Ghana from 29-31 October 2007 Noting that the environment in which National Chambers of Commerce and Industry operate is in a constant state of change that is greatly influenced by world-wide trends such as the multi-lateral, rule-based trade regime of WTO and the on-going economic integration process in the ECOWAS region as well as the anticipated end of trade preferences under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement and the likely adoption of the Economic Partnership Agreement and/or its Alternatives Aware of the increasingly important role of the private sector in promoting economic development and growth as well as in facilitating employment and in reducing poverty; Cognisant of the emphasis placed on the private sector as an engine of economic growth and integration by the Governments of West African Countries and ECOWAS and the measures the ECOWAS Commission has deployed to- date to promote the development and growth of the private sector through the establishment of its Private Sector Department; Recalling and having taken note of the Work of the Reflection Committee, made up of Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Benin for the Resuscitation of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce which met in Lome and Cotonou on 12-13 September 2001 and 13-15 November 2002 respectively to prepare the Draft Constitution of the above Federation and other related documents; to enhance effective functioning of the Federation; Further Recalling the Recommendations of the Cotonou Declaration which was adopted by West African Private Sector Regional Workshop held in Cotonou, Benin from 4-6 June 2007 and the meeting of National Chambers of Commerce and Industry represented at that meeting on 6 th June 2007 which among others considered the rationale for the revival of the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce; Recognising that there is need to deepen the level of consultations in order to make the proposals for the resuscitation of the Federation more responsive to the demands of the time, in particular the deepening of regional economic integration in West Africa: 1. Express its deep appreciation to the ECOWAS Commission for its efforts directed at supporting the development of the private sector in West Africa in general and in particular for the organisation of the First West African Business Forum;

2. Further express its deep gratitude to the Resuscitation Committee for the efforts deployed to sustain the work of the Committee in spite of numerous difficulties encountered in the process; 3. Decides to establish an Interim Executive Committee with a mandate of six months to continue the work of the Resuscitation exercise composed as follows: Ghana……………………………… Chairman; Benin ……………………………….Member Burkina Faso,……………………….Member Cote d’Ivoire………………………..Member Guinea Bissau……………………….Member Nigeria………………………………Member; Sierra Leone…………………………Member; ECOWAS Commission……………..Advisor; International Trade Centre (ITC)… Advisor 4. Define the mandate of the Interim Executive Committee as follows: i. To review the Draft Revised Constitution of FWACC taking into account the imminent conclusion of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the need to deepen the regional integration process in West Africa as well as take advantage of multi/bilateral trade regimes such as WTO, AGOA, EPA etc; ii. To draw-up an organigramme for the General Secretariat of the FWACC for a two-year period and prepare the job descriptions of the posts in the organigramme; iii. To draw-up a strategic plan for the first five years of operation of the FWACC bearing in mind the fast changing economic environment and trade regimes especially as regards the deepening of the economic integration process in West Africa including the mainstreaming of the private sector in the implementation of ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), EPA, WTO, China Africa Forum, Tokyo International Conference on Africa’s Development (TICAD), AGOA etc; iv. To prepare a work plan/programme for the first year of operation of FWACC; v. To mobilise resources for the work of the Committee and the first year of operation of FWACC; vi. To develop co-operation and partnership with relevant public, governments, regional, international and non- governmental organisations

vii. To convene a General Conference of the FWACC to examine and approve the revised draft constitution, the organigramme of the Interim Secretariat, the 5 year strategic plan and work plan/programme for the first year of operation by end of March 2008. 5. Request the Chairman of the Committee to report to the next meeting of ECOWAS Business Forum on the progress made in the implementation of this resolution. 6. To carry out all administrative functions and activities necessary for the efficient and effective functioning of the Federation, including functional representation, contacts with Donor Agencies, the ECOWAS Commission, and other relvant Government Agencies;