ECOWAS TPO Network

Strengthening economic, trade and investment relations.

The ECOWAS Trade Promotions Organization was created in Abuja on June 17, 2021.

Welcome to TPO Network

Promoting Trade and Investment in West Africa

The ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organization Network is a collaborative platform established by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to promote trade development and enhance the competitiveness of the West African region.

We work closely with the ECOWAS Commission and various trade support institutions to facilitate business growth, foster inter-institutional cooperation, and provide valuable resources and services to businesses operating within and beyond the West African region.

Components of Ecowas TPO Network

KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE

Knowledge exchange is a primary component of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network, enabling businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to access and share valuable market intelligence, regulatory insights, and best practices. Through platforms such as West Africa Competitiveness Observatory (WACOB) Matchmaking tool, trade missions, and public-private partnerships, stakeholders can build export capacity, reduce market entry risks, and drive innovation. By fostering collaboration among governments, industry groups, and firms, knowledge exchange strengthens the overall effectiveness and sustainability of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Network.

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING

Institutional strengthening is focused on building capacity of Business Support Organizations to provide services to the Private Sector. By investing in governance, staff training, digital infrastructure, and policy coherence, institutional strengthening ensures a more transparent, export ready, and competitive trade environment that benefits businesses and boosts international market access even beyond the ECOWAS Community.

INTERREGIONAL STRENGTHENING

Interregional strengthening is focused on enhancing collaboration and partnership across the various economic hubs in different regions. This entails partnership and collaboration with export promotion agencies, Regional Business Associations, and standards trade promotion bodies in other regions to access potential market beyond the ECOWAS region. Interregional strengthening aims to break down trades barriers, streamline procedures, and align policies to ensure a cohesive and efficient support system for exporters. Through shared platforms, joint initiatives, and formal cooperation frameworks, interregional strengthening creates a more integrated and strategic approach to trade development.

Our Services

Networking and Collaboration

The ECOWAS TPO Network serves as a platform for TPOs, private sector organizations, development banks, and international organizations to connect, share information, best practices, policies, challenges, and experiences. We encourage collaborative projects and the pooling of resources to promote synergies and maximize the impact of regional initiatives.

Trade Promotion Initiatives

We organize and facilitate various trade promotion activities, including buyer-seller meetings, trade shows, trade missions, and participation in international negotiations. These initiatives create opportunities for businesses to showcase their products and services, expand their market reach, and establish valuable business connections.

Market Intelligence

The ECOWAS TPO Network conducts market surveys, sectoral studies, and disseminates information on supply and demand patterns within the region. Through our comprehensive trade information network, we provide valuable market insights to businesses, enabling them to make informed decisions and seize market opportunities.

Leaders of Trade Promotion Organisation Network (TPON)

Modou Mbène Gueye

President of the Trade Promotion Organisation Network (TPON)

President and Director General of the Senegalese Export Promotion Agency (ASEPEX)

Modou Mbène Gueye, who holds a master’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages (Business and International Trade), was appointed Director General of the Senegalese Export Promotion Agency (ASEPEX) in May 2024. He also serves as President of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation Network (TPON), where he has demonstrated strong regional leadership.

Upon taking office, he launched a participatory approach, meeting individually with ASEPEX teams to strengthen engagement and improve performance. His ambition is to make ASEPEX more useful, efficient, visible, and accountable, while ensuring that Senegalese SMEs have real access to international markets—emphasizing that such access “should not be a luxury.”

Under his leadership, ASEPEX has enhanced its collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, aiming to secure increased budgetary support and address financial barriers—particularly to enable Senegal’s effective participation in global trade events such as the Osaka Expo.

Mr. Ousainou Senghore

Vice-President of the Trade Promotion Organisation Network (TPON)

Director General, Gambia Investment & Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA) & Vice President, ECOWAS TPO Network

Mr. Ousainou Senghore holds a distinguished record of leadership as Director General of the Gambia Investment & Export Promotion Agency (GiEPA), a position he has held since September 2020, following a successful tenure as Finance Director at the Gambia Tourism Board. Under his guidance, GiEPA has transformed into a competitive investment hub in West Africa. His strategic initiatives include hosting the landmark OIC Investment Summit in The Gambia and establishing Gambia–Senegal Investment Summits, all aimed at fostering regional integration and attracting foreign investment.

On July 5–6, 2023, Mr. Senghore was elected Vice President of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organizations (TPO) Network, during the Network’s third annual general meeting in Guinea-Bissau. Already chairing the Finance and Resource Mobilization Technical Committee for three consecutive years, he brings continuity and expertise to his expanded regional role. As Vice President, he plays a pivotal role in steering inclusive trade development across ECOWAS member states.