WAES Designs to Shapping Sub-Region’s Economic Future – Says Amb. Tuggar
By Raphael Ekpang
Abuja (Core Reporters) Nigeria Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar has said that the upcoming Maiden edition of the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) is designed to serve as a strategic platform for shapping the economic future of the sub-region.
The Minister made this known on Monday, June 16, 2025 during a world press conference organised by the Ministry to herald the event which is scheduled for June 20-21, at the refurbished Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja -Nigeria.
Amb. Tuggar noted that WAES 2025 will convene Heads of State, Ministers, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth innovators from across West Africa and beyond. Adding that as a government, “we recognise that sustainable development, peace, and prosperity in West Africa are best achieved through enhanced regional cooperation and economic integration.
“Economic integration requires the active partnership of the private sector and cannot be exclusively state-centric. WAES 2025 reflects this conviction. Strategic Objectives,” he said.
He explained further that, WAES 2025 is a solutions-oriented initiative that seeks to establish a harmonised trade policy framework to eliminate barriers to intra-African commerce and investment, mobilise resources for critical infrastructure, energy, and logistics to improve the free movement of goods and people.
Also, the WAES will promote inclusive economic growth, with particular attention to empowering women, youth, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and enhance West Africa’s economic resilience through innovation, institutional reforms, and strategic global partnerships.
According to him, “The summit will feature the following key components:Presidential Roundtable and CEO Forum: A high-level dialogue between Heads of State and business leaders, culminating in a Joint Communiqué that articulates shared regional priorities and a concrete plan of action.
Also the “WAES Deal Room” A platform for Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions aimed at securing landmark investment deals across strategic sectors, including infrastructure, agribusiness, renewable energy, and digital finance. An exhibition of over 100 investment-ready SMEs and regional development projects, fostering cross-border business linkages and reinforcing the role of the private sector in advancing the AfCFTA.
Youth and Cultural Empowerment Series: Featuring events such as the West Africa Art Exhibition, Innovation Pitch, and Youth Leadership Panels, these will showcase the region’s rich creative energy and the ingenuity of our youth
Core Reporters undesirable that “Nigeria’s Enduring Commitment to WAES 2025 is a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to the ECOWAS vision of a borderless, peaceful, and economically integrated West Africa. It aligns seamlessly with continental objectives under Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
However, the summit seems to address the facilitation of cross-border trade and logistics, the advancement of regional macroeconomic stability and value chains and the reinforcement of institutional cooperation, peace, and governance.
“As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I extend a warm invitation to regional leaders, continental institutions, development partners, private investors, and civil society actors to converge in Abuja for what will be a landmark moment in West Africa’s economic evolution.
Together, through WAES 2025, we take deliberate steps toward a prosperous, united, and globally competitive West Africa,” the Minister concluded.
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