About the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES)
Building bridges for regional prosperity and sustainable development
Who We Are
We facilitate strategic partnerships and cross-border opportunities that enable West African leaders to scale their businesses, drive innovation, and deliver impactful change.
WAES is the enduring engine for West Africa’s economic sovereignty. Institutionalised by the Garki Declaration, we bridge the gap between high-level policy and private sector execution to transform the region into a unified, globally competitive bloc.
Our Commitment to West Africa
Building the Future Together
Our Mission
Serve as a high-level platform for substantive dialogue, policy convergence, and strategic partnerships. We align national ambitions with regional imperatives to accelerate economic integration, industrialisation, and shared prosperity.
Our Vision
A unified, economically sovereign, and future-ready West Africa that leverages its collective strength for global competitiveness.
Our Story
WAES was founded on a bold vision: to reset the region’s economic future. Born from the historic inaugural summit in 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria, we emerged from a collective recognition by 9 Heads of State and 15 member nations that opportunity alone does not guarantee transformation—it must be earned through vision and integration.
What began as a summit has evolved into a permanent biennial institution. We were established to move beyond rhetoric into “measurable delivery,” creating a dedicated platform where political will meets private-sector execution to dismantle barriers and unlock West Africa’s vast potential.
Abuja, Nigeria
Our Purpose
We exist to champion West African leaders by fostering a global alliance committed to economic sovereignty and self-determination. Our aim is to shift the region’s trajectory from raw commodity exports to an intelligent, value-chain industrial economy.
By leveraging the region’s diversity and emerging industries, we create the ecosystem for indigenous capital to thrive. We align national ambitions with regional imperatives, empowering youth innovators and enterprises to translate collective aspirations into bankable economic gains.
Why West Africa
West Africa is one of the last major frontiers of global economic growth, home to 400M+ people and a uniquely diverse economic landscape. The region is pivoting toward new industries enabled by digital technology, science, and renewables.
Despite this promise, intra-regional trade remains low. WAES was created to correct this fragmentation. By harmonising markets and harnessing our youthful demographics, West Africa offers some of the highest investment returns globally. The region is not just ready for aid; it is ready for investment, industrialisation, and partnership.
Our Goal
Our goal is simple: Measurable Delivery. Through collaboration, we strive to raise intra-regional trade above 50% in five years and secure West Africa’s place as a cohesive economic powerhouse. We are dedicated to making a positive, lasting difference by turning policy statements into functioning infrastructure, seamless borders, and empowered communities.
The 2025 Inaugural Summit
Convened from June 20-21, 2025, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, the inaugural summit marked a turning point for the region.
Hosted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it brought together an unprecedented coalition of 9 Heads of State, 41 Ministers, and private sector leaders to adopt the Garki Declaration—the blueprint for our economic future.
Institutional Framework
WAES is not just an event; it is an institution.
Biennial Summit
Rotating among member states every two years, ensuring inclusive ownership and strengthening regional solidarity.
The Secretariat
A technical body responsible for implementing resolutions and tracking progress via annual scorecards.
Governance
Guided by a Technical Planning Committee with focal persons from Ministries of Foreign Affairs across the region.
The Blueprint for Regional Prosperity
Executive Summary
The Garki Declaration represents the collective resolve of West African Heads of State to dismantle barriers and unlock the region's full economic potential.
The 12 Key Resolutions
Regional Integration
Full ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) & Common External Tariff (CET) activation, with ENBIC digital ID rollout for frictionless movement.
Institutional Status
Establish WAES as a permanent biennial forum.
Trade Targets
Lift intra-regional trade from ~12–13% to above 50% within five years by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers.
Food Security
Scale investment in modern agriculture and agro-processing to end import dependency.
Value Chains
Promote local processing in mining, energy, and digital infrastructure.
Infrastructure
Accelerate West African Gas Pipeline and West African Power Pool functionality; resolve bureaucratic hurdles; advance Lagos-Abidjan Highway and other PPP corridors.
Indigenous Capital
Mobilise Diaspora remittances, skills, and domestic capital through structured vehicles into priority value chains.
Youth & Innovation
Stand up regional incubators, targeted youth funds, and digital/technical skills programmes to scale entrepreneurship.
Women's Economic Participation
Mainstream gender-responsive policies; pursue 30%+ representation in public procurement and investment pipelines.
Accountability
Operationalise a High-Level WAES Implementation Secretariat to follow through on resolutions and agreements.
Deal Room
Sustain the WAES Deal Room as a permanent matchmaking platform for governments and private investors beyond the Summit.
Peace & Stability
Recognise that economic progress is inseparable from regional security and democratic governance.
Driving Regional Economic Transformation
WAES is driving regional economic transformation by bringing together 15 ECOWAS member states, facilitating $50M+ in investment deals under negotiation, securing the participation of 9 heads of state, and registering over 3,500 participants.