Exhibitors at an international trade fair have called on leaders of the Economic Community of West African States to reduce the numerous barriers inhibiting trade among the countries in the West African sub-region, according to Ghana News Agency on Friday.

They should also ensure that their countries take steps to implement the various protocols, especially ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and the Free Movement of People and Goods, to which they are signatories.

"The barriers are too many and needed to be lowered to encourage businessmen and entrepreneurs to explore markets in neighboring countries. For now it is difficult," Muyiwa Oyegbile, Sales and Marketing Manager In-Charge of Exports, Nigeria Distilleries told reporters at the ECOWAS stand.

Oyegbile, who took delivery of the company's goods for the fair on Friday, three days after the fair had opened and almost a week when the truck carrying the goods set off from Nigeria, said it was sad to see these things happening in the sub-region.

"It took the intervention of Nigeria's Ambassadors to Benin and Togo to get the goods across the frontiers for the fair," he told journalists.

About 800 exhibitors, made up of 700 local firms and 100 foreign ones, are showcasing their products at the two-week fair.

Source: Xinhua