Nigerien President Mamadou Tadja on Saturday called on members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to strengthen unity within the regional bloc.

Tadja, the outgoing chief of ECOWAS, told the opening of a summit of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) that he hoped the gathering will help improve efficiency of ECOWAS and strengthen unity among its members.

During his four-year presidency of ECOWAS, progress was made in facilitating the free movement of people and capital and ensuring the freedom to reside, work and set up business anywhere in the ECOWAS zone, Tadja said.

Enhanced cooperation between ECOWAS and other organizations as well as non-member states has also been achieved, said Tadja.

The WAEMU summit, which opened in Burkina Faso's capital of Ouagadougou on Saturday, was attened by heads of state or government of eight member states.

The delegates are expected to issue a 2006 report on the performance of the 12-year-old WAEMU. Also on the agenda of the summit is the appointment of directors for the Central Bank of West African States and the West African Development Bank.

Source: Xinhua