ECOWAS Moves To Digitize Trade, Pilot Six Member States to Fast-Track Electronic Certificate of Origin.
By Raymond Enoch
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken a decisive step toward fully digitizing intra-regional trade documentation as six pilot member states meet in Lomé, Togo, to fine-tune the implementation of the Community Electronic Certificate of Origin (e-CO).
The technical working session, convened by the ECOWAS Commission through its Customs Union and Taxation Directorate, brings together representatives from Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. The four-day meeting is holding at the headquarters of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) in Lomé, following its opening on Monday, November 24, 2025.
These six countries have been designated as pilot states for the rollout of the electronic certificate of origin, a flagship trade facilitation tool designed to modernize and automate the issuance and management of origin certificates within the ECOWAS region.
The e-CO system, officially launched in November 2024, provides for the full dematerialization of the certificate of origin and the automation of its issuance procedures. At the heart of the initiative is a centralized ECOWAS electronic platform that will enable seamless, secure exchange of certificates of origin between customs and competent authorities of member states.
Over the four days, delegates are examining the current level of automation of national certificate-of-origin processes in each participating country. The ultimate goal is to ensure that national systems can be effectively connected and interoperable with ECOWAS’s central e-CO system.
By assessing readiness, identifying gaps, and aligning procedures, the working session is expected to accelerate the integration of national platforms into the regional architecture, thereby simplifying the movement of goods, reducing fraud, and cutting delays associated with paper-based documentation.
Once fully implemented, the Community Electronic Certificate of Origin is projected to become a cornerstone of ECOWAS’s wider strategy to boost intra-regional trade, enhance transparency, and support the competitiveness of West African businesses in regional and global value chains.
