The first International Forum of Economic Press of West Africa (FIPE-UEMOA), also known as the West Africa Eco Forum, opened on Wednesday, June 24th in Dakar. Under the theme “Innovating for the economic future of West Africa”, this first edition aims to be a space for dialogue dedicated to regional economic issues. According to its promoters, the initiative aims to improve the circulation of economic information and enhance the visibility of West Africa to investors.
Regional integration at the heart of discussions
Representing the Senegalese Minister of Industry and Commerce, Paul Faye, Deputy Director of Foreign Trade, highlighted the role of economic and commercial integration in the transformation of West African economies.
According to the official, this integration is “a powerful catalyst for businesses, a driver of job creation, and a strong lever for sustainable development”. He also called for mobilization of economic actors – public institutions, private sector, investors, as well as technical and financial partners – to boost intra-African trade and accelerate the structural transformation of the region’s economies.
In a context marked by digital transformation and the rise of artificial intelligence, he believed that economic media have an important role to play in accompanying and explaining the ongoing changes.
“Impact 2030”, UEMOA’s new strategic plan
On the other hand, Aminata Mbodj, technical advisor to the President of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Commission, presented the main directions of the 2025-2030 strategic plan, called “Impact 2030”.
She explained that this roadmap aims to make the Commission an “agile, efficient, and driving force for deepening regional integration and the structural transformation of the Union’s economies”. She indicated that the forum’s theme is in line with this dynamic, calling for collective action in favor of innovation and regional competitiveness.
She also emphasized the role of media and communication tools in disseminating community policies, stating that they contribute to development as much as other integration mechanisms. According to Mrs. Mbodj, this forum provides a framework for better understanding UEMOA’s policies among the populations of the community area, which has over 151 million inhabitants.
A platform for regional economic press
According to Léonard Dossou, President of the UEMOA Media Platform (PDM-UEMOA), the West Africa Eco Forum should help bring forth an African economic voice that is more audible in international debates.
According to the organizers, the objective is to better reflect the economic realities of the continent while enhancing its attractiveness to investors and decision-makers. The forum aims to establish itself in the long term as a framework for reflection, dialogue, and economic promotion in the West African region.
Beyond institutional exchanges, the meeting is also presented as a platform for connecting public decision-makers, investors, entrepreneurs, media, and young professionals around the region’s main economic challenges.
