Abuja, Nigeria – February 7, 2025 – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and India are set to deepen their cooperation following high-level discussions between the Chargé d’Affaires of the Indian High Commission to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Vartika Rawat, and ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray. The meeting, held on February 6 in Abuja, reflects India’s commitment to reinforcing its partnership with the West African regional bloc.
The talks focused on key areas of mutual interest, including economic and trade cooperation, capacity building, and investment. Security concerns in the ECOWAS region were also part of the discussions, as both parties explored collaborative efforts to address these challenges.
Ms. Rawat praised the existing strong ties between India and ECOWAS and called for further collaboration. She referenced plans for a forthcoming memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at solidifying and expanding bilateral relations.
Dr. Touray echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism about exploring new avenues of cooperation between ECOWAS and India. He stressed the importance of partnerships that promote regional unity and security, emphasizing that external allies should contribute to stability and development rather than division.
“Our partners must help us preserve peace and unity, and promote development in our community. They must help us to unite and come together, rather than divide us,” Dr. Touray said.
The meeting concluded with a gesture of goodwill, as Ms. Rawat presented a gift to Dr. Touray. He was accompanied by Abdou Kolley, Director of Cabinet, and Jérôme Boa, Director of External Relations at the ECOWAS Commission.
