Speaking at an investiture dinner in Accra, Dr Yaw Adu Gyamfi, President of the AGI  said the Association would do its best to ensure the realisation of the’ One District, One Factory’ industrialisation policy and urged government to give the Association the chance to see the execution of the programme.

“It is my considered opinion that this industrialisation programme along with a ‘Buy Made in West Africa campaign’ is crucial for addressing the problem of unemployment, particularly among the youth,” he said.

The investiture held in honour of the AGI President and national council members on the theme: ‘Effective regional integration for industrial development’, saw representatives from trade associations in the West Africa sub-region in attendance, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.

Also in attendance was the special guest of honour General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, former President of Nigeria and Mr Traore Kalilou, Ecowas Commissioner for Industry and Private Sector Promotion.

Addressing the theme of Regional integration, Dr Gyamfi said it was the only means to resolve the unemployment problem in the West Africa sub-region, adding that the current slow pace of co-operation was hurting all economies in the bloc.

He said there was the need for all countries within the sub-region to work together to ensure the benefit of investments and a common big market to facilitate exports.

“The whole region is likely to continue to lose jobs to the tigers of Asia unless we learn to work together,” he said, adding that there was the need to encourage governments to coordinate industrial policies in the ECOWAS region.

Dr Gyamfi said AGI on its part planned to work with other manufacturer associations in the sub-region, especially Nigeria to promote investment, collaboration, training and trade for the benefit of ECOWAS.

He said the AGI would continue to engage stakeholders in its effort to help build the economy and called on government to lend its full support by creating the enabling business environment through the implementation of the 70 per cent local procurement, enforcement of business regulations to prevent importation of sub-standard products, among others.

In his keynote address, Dr Frank Udemba Jacobs, President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, called on governments in the sub-region not to lose sight of the industrial development agenda for which ECOWAS was set up.

He said there was also the need for governments within the region to wield the necessary political will to reject trade agreements, which would derail the foundation of industrial development within the bloc.

There was also the need to fast-track common standards to ensure products were accepted in the markets of others.

The AGI is a voluntary business association of over 1200 members, made up of small, medium and large scale manufacturing and services industries in agro-processing (food and beverages), agri-business, pharmaceuticals, electronics and electrical, telecommunications, information technology, utilities, service industries, transport, construction, textiles, garments and leather, banking and advertising.