The International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with The National Investment Board (NIB), and other partners, successfully organized a five (5) day training of trainers in Business Matchmaking Platform for Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Gambia.
The Platform is part of the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOM), which is coordinated by ECOWAS and funded by the European Union. It was designed to provide businesses within the ECOWAS region with a user-friendly, multilingual digital space to connect, advertise services, and engage in real-time communication. It supports businesses to overcome language barriers through automated translation in English, French, and Portuguese.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, Executive Director of NIB, welcomed all participants and said that the platform was a way of taking advantage of the trade opportunities in Africa, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) etc. He emphasized NIB’s commitment to ensuring that businesses in Sierra Leone are equipped with the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary to expand and thrive.
In her remarks, Anna Jankowska from ITC emphasized the critical role the platform plays in supporting businesses. She said the training was an essential part of ITC’s mission to help businesses across West Africa to connect, collaborate, and flourish in a competitive global environment.
CEO of SLIEPA, Sheku Lexmond Koroma, commended the organizers for the initiative and assured attendees of full institutional support. He encouraged TPOs to maximize the benefits of the training to foster growth and collaboration across the region.
Representing the European Union, Nicolas Kutin lauded the initiative as a crucial step towards overcoming the obstacles that have long hindered regional trade. He noted that the Business Matchmaking Platform provides a digital bridge for businesses, helping them connect more easily and navigate cross-border challenges.
Sarah Akpofure from ECOWAS commended the government of Sierra Leone for hosting the training and emphasized the platform’s role in fostering regional economic integration. She stressed that the Business Matchmaking Platform is designed to empower businesses, strengthen partnerships, and contribute to the growth of intra-regional trade, ultimately driving economic development across West Africa.
The five-day training culminated with Trade Policy Organizations (TPOs) successfully training over 50 businesses in Sierra Leone. Participants were taught how to create profiles, navigate the platform, and leverage it to grow their businesses and access new markets. The platform now stands as a vital tool for businesses in Sierra Leone to expand their network and prosper in the broader ECOWAS region.
