ECOWAS and India strengthen their strategic partnership in trade, development and regional cooperation

The President of the Commission of ECOWAS, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, received H.E. Mr. Abhishek Singh, High Commissioner of India to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, for high-level consultations in Abuja on March 24, 2026. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, development financing, capacity building, and regional stability. Mr. Singh was officially accredited as India’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS in November 2025.

The meeting highlighted the mutual commitment to revitalize the ECOWAS–India partnership through the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding, strengthened strategic dialogue, and increased collaboration in key areas such as food security, health, digital infrastructure, technology transfer, and defense.

Furthermore, the High Commissioner emphasized India’s significant contribution through the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, with credit lines totaling 1.14 billion US dollars, and reaffirmed India’s willingness to deepen practical cooperation with ECOWAS institutions and its Member States.