Prime Minister Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé chaired the opening of the 1st ECOWAS Investment Forum (EIF 2024) in Lomé on Thursday 4 April 2024. This first edition, under the theme ‘Transforming ECOWAS communities in a challenging environment’, is organised by the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) in partnership with the Togolese government and India. The overall objective of the ECOWAS Investment Forum is to highlight the strong investment potential in the sub-region and to come up with a series of projects and programs to create relevant partnerships.

This first edition will focus on the economic recovery of ECOWAS Member States, addressing crucial issues such as food security, infrastructure development, climate change mitigation and job creation. It also provides a unique opportunity to bring together industry experts, development and business actors, and government agencies to share best practices, take action to foster inclusive and sustainable economic growth, invest in human capital and build resilience to global challenges.

EBID President George Agyekum Donkor underlined that the theme of this first edition demonstrates the importance of collective action and innovation to overcome the myriad challenges facing our region. These range from infrastructure development to food security, from climate change mitigation to job creation. Discussions and commitments made by the forum will undoubtedly shape the course of our collective efforts towards building a more resilient and inclusive future for all.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic, H.E.M. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the Prime Minister welcomed the choice of Togo, a land of hospitality, opportunity, peace, harmony between nations and indeed a financial hub to host this 1rst Forum.

“I wish to congratulate the organisers for this timely forum. It was indeed high time for the ECOWAS of the peoples, which our people have been waiting for, to make its presence felt,” she declared.

She congratulated EBID on its achievements and reaffirmed Togo’s commitment to supporting the Bank’s mission to channel investment into our region to unlock its huge potential and foster inclusive growth and development.