The proposed ECOWAS SME Awards has been designed to identify and publicly recognize small and medium sized enterprises within the sub region which have shown exemplary conduct and performance in cross border trade and investment between ECOWAS member states; and/or have shown exemplary capacity for this and a willingness to engage in such cross border business even though they have not yet commenced such activity The awards will also identify and publicly recognize regulatory and facilitation institutions and enterprises – sovereign state, bilateral, multilateral and privately owned business support service providers inclusive – involved in promoting facilitating and regulating such activity by SMEs. The awards scheme is being organized by The Business Executive Media Group and the Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and will be held under the auspices of the ECOWAS Commission.

The awards are being organized to promote and encourage cross border trade and investment among SMEs in ECOWAS member states by showing appreciation to outstanding enterprises encouraged in such activities. It also aims to provide a platform for creating and enhancing cross border supply/value chains within the sub region by facilitating networking between actual and potential cross border trading and investing SMEs as well as regulatory and facilitation institutions and providers of the business support services needed for such activities.

Awardees will be determined through a comprehensive and credible selection process comprising nominations from the public, verification and assessment of nominations, and ultimately assessment of short-listed nominations using a combination of agreed quantitative and qualitative considerations. Awards will be conferred on the winners at a five star gala awards conferment ceremony which would serve as a side event at the impending ECOWAS Summit in Abuja.