Abuja, 26^th July 2018. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’ Commission has entered a 3 billion CFA mutually beneficial Agreement with Switzerland to boost livestock investment in the coastal countries within its fold.

The president of the ECOWAS Commission Jean-Claude Kassi Brou who signed the Agreement with the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Chad, Niger and ECOWAS Eric Mayoraz in Abuja, Nigeria on the 25^th of July 2018, stressed the willingness of the Commission to continue its cooperation with the Development Partners towards the economic advancement of the region.

In a brief ceremony, which featured appendages of signatures by both parties, the ECOWAS Commission and Switzerland gave commitment to the tenets of the three year Agreement which runs from 2018 to 2021.

President Brou who was supported by senior officials of the Commission led by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources Mr Sékou Sangaré, thanked the Swiss envoy for the partnership that exists between Switzerland and the ECOWAS Commission.

 The agreement signing is expected to further strengthen livestock breeding activities and by extension, agricultural production in all 15 Member countries that make up ECOWAS.

Responding to President Brou’s warm remarks, Ambassador Mayoraz who was flanked the senior political adviser of the Swiss embassy Mr. Pascal Holliger, extolled the excellent relationship between ECOWAS and Switzerland and noted the fruitful cooperation in many fields such as peace and security, migration, free movement of goods persons, cattle growing as well cooperation in dealing with the issues associated with transhumance.

Ambassador Mayoraz expressed the hope that the ECOWAS Commission will soon open a permanent mission to the international organisations and the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The signing is a follow up to the understanding reached in 2017 with a letter of intent and plan of action between both parties which reinforced existing dialogue.

Considering the strategic role of capacity building in the promotion of the agricultural economy, professional as well as farmer organizations in West Africa, the ECOWAS Commission hopes to improve the food security situation in Member States with Agreement such as the one signed with Switzerland.