The first West Africa Connect event, an initiative launched by the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions under the WACOMP, is set to take place on 16-17 November 2021 in a virtual format, given the uncertainties related to the Covid-19. This event is a unique opportunity to bring together textile/garments suppliers as well as ICT service providers from West African countries and carefully identified regional and international buyers.

Organized with the support of ITC and UNIDO, this event is expected to attract over 200 West African suppliers and 50 regional and international buyers to meet through an innovative online match-making platform. Individual B2B meetings will be organized between selected textile, garments, fashion as well as IT services & solutions providers (among others) and buyers, to secure commercial transactions and establish new and durable business partnerships between value chain actors. All participants will take part in a capacity-building programme on trade fair preparation and the technicalities of the online platform to prepare SMEs for event participation.

The event will not be limited to buyers/sellers linkages, it will also give visibility to the production initiatives in the textile value chain triggered by WACOMP in response to the Covid-19 outbreak e.g. production of face masks. The event will also promote investments in the cotton, textile, garment and IT services value chain. Several Masterclass events will be organized e.g. on the importance of digital technologies to develop a dynamic and sustainable textile & garments sector with international guest speakers.