Latest news with #crossbordertrade
Zawya
10-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Benin: Launch of the third edition of the information and awareness campaign for women small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan
On Tuesday 8th of July 2025, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Department of Human Development and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, officially launched the Cotonou stage of the third edition of the information and awareness-raising campaign for women small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. The aim of this initiative is to build on the achievements of previous events held on the Tema-Paga and Dakar-Banjul-Bissau corridors. The aim is to increase women traders' knowledge of the legislation governing cross-border trade, existing Community initiatives and the tools developed for them, particularly in terms of border transparency and the fight against gender-based violence. In Cotonou, the activities began with field visits, notably to the modern market and to an SME run by a woman entrepreneur specialising in the manufacture of cosmetic products distributed nationally and sub-regionally. A visit to the Sèmè-Kraké juxtaposed control post is also planned, with a view to reinforcing exchanges between the various players involved. The official launch ceremony was held at the Golden Tulip hotel. It was co-chaired by Benin's Ministries of Social Affairs and Microfinance, and of Industry and Trade. It was also attended by Her Excellency Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, and His Excellency Amadou DIONGUE, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin. Other participants included the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance, the Director of the ECOWAS National Office in Benin, representatives of the Cotonou Chamber of Commerce, associations of small-scale cross-border traders, and technical and financial partners. This third edition marks a major step forward in the ECOWAS' commitment to the economic empowerment of women and to improving the fluidity of cross-border trade in the West African region. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release. The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Third edition of information and awareness campaign for small cross-border traders along the Abidjan – Lagos corridor: official launch of the Lomé stage
As part of the implementation of the third edition of the Information and Awareness Campaign for small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan – Lagos corridor, the Department of Human Development and Social Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission organised the official launch of the Lomé stage on the 4th of July 2025 at the Hôtel 2 février in Lomé, Togo. The launch ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Professor Kossiwa ZINSOU-KLASSO, Minister for Social Action, Solidarity and the Advancement of Women. The aim of this campaign is to build on the achievements and results of the 2023 and 2024 Editions carried out along the Tema-Paga and Dakar-Banjul-Bissau Corridors in order to facilitate cross-border trade and improve the operations of small-scale women traders by enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the texts governing cross-border trade and related community initiatives. The ceremony, which took place against the backdrop of ECOWAS' golden jubilee, was an opportunity to raise awareness among women traders of ECOWAS cross-border agri-food trade initiatives, policies and strategies, in particular the Regional Programme for the Integration of Agricultural Markets – PRIMA (2021-2026) covering Togo and Benin, and on building the capacity of women traders in the toolkit developed by ITC for women involved in small-scale cross-border trade (Transparency at the border and Combating gender-based violence). The launch ceremony was attended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Togolese Republic, the Ministry of Trade, Handicrafts and Local Consumption, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad of the Togolese Republic, the ECOWAS Resident Representation in Togo, the ECOWAS National Office, the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food, based in Lomé, the Togolese Chamber of Commerce, representatives of small-scale cross-border traders' associations and technical and financial partners. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Ecobank, XTransfer partnership will boost SME trade with China
XTransfer, China's B2B cross-border trade payment platform, and Ecobank Group, have signed a landmark MOU to roll out comprehensive cross-border financial services to Africa's SMEs engaged in foreign trade. The collaboration will facilitate trade between China and African countries. In recent years, China and Africa have continued to deepen trade cooperation. In 2023, bilateral trade reached a record $282bn. From January to November 2024, China's exports to Africa totalled $160bn, a 1.4% increase from the previous year, while imports from Africa reached $107bn, marking a substantial rise of 6.6% Despite this growth, African SMEs engaged in foreign trade face numerous challenges related to cross- border payments and fund collections. The partnership between XTransfer and Ecobank Group will provide comprehensive cross-border payment solutions for African SMEs' foreign trade. XTransfer will leverage Ecobank's extensive network across Africa, enabling its Chinese clients to collect funds in local African currencies while assisting African SMEs in making payments in their local currencies to negate foreign exchange issues. Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, said: 'This partnership builds on our established strategy, which includes a representative office in China and a dedicated China desk. By integrating XTransfer's cutting-edge solutions with our pan-African payment platform, we simplify payments, reduce transaction costs, and enable African businesses to thrive in global trade.' © Copyright IC Publications 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bluetongue restrictions worry farmers on Shropshire-Wales border
Farmers on the border between Shropshire and Wales are worried measures to stop the spread of the bluetongue virus will hurt cross-border restrictions, due to be introduced next month will mean cattle, sheep and goats travelling from England to Wales will need to test negative for the potentially fatal disease before they can be transported across the Bevan, the director Oswestry livestock auction on the English side of the border, said there was a lot of uncertainty and the measures could have a "massive impact" during sales of livestock in the MP for North Shropshire, Helen Morgan, said there needed to be greater clarity for farmers. While bluetongue has spread across large parts of England, it has yet to reach Wales this year and the Welsh government said it was attempting to hold it back "for as long as we can".At a market like Oswestry, where 80% of the livestock sold will cross over the border, every Welsh animal which does not sell will need to be tested before it can return to Wales, at a cost of up to £70 per test only last seven days before animals need to take a fresh one. Helen Roberts, who farms in Wales, said it would force her to look further afield for cattle auctions on the Welsh side of the border instead of Oswestry, which is just three miles said it was "just ridiculous".Ms Morgan said: "There are hundreds of farms that have land on both sides of the border, so it's really problematic and inconvenient for them and there's a lack of clarity over how they should manage that situation at the moment." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Maine governor touring New Brunswick, Nova Scotia this week
New Brunswick Premier and Maine Gov. Janet Mills met in Fredericton on Tuesday. (Source: Nick Moore/CTV News Atlantic) Maine Gov. Janet Mills is touring the Maritimes this week, looking to shore up cross-border travel and business amidst frayed U.S.-Canada relations. Gov. Mills and New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt discussed tariffs and trade in Fredericton on Tuesday during a 'fireside chat' hosted by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. 'I'm here today to talk to you and listen to you about how we can improve relations, despite some obstacles coming from powers that are outside our control,' Mills said to the Fredericton audience. 'And how we can continue the deep abiding cultural, economic, financial relationships that are so important to all of us.' Mills and Holt met last week in Boston to talk tariffs and trade during a summit of eastern Canadian premiers and U.S. governors. Mills landed in New Brunswick on Monday where she held a roundtable meeting with the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce. On Wednesday, Mills is scheduled to meet with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston in Halifax. More to come… Governor and premier New Brunswick Premier and Maine Gov. Janet Mills met in Fredericton on Tuesday. (Source: Nick Moore/CTV News Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
