PAMA affirms GTR West Africa as a catalyst for advancing practical solutions to support African manufacturers
The Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has affirmed that platforms such as GTR West Africa remain important for advancing practical solutions that support African manufacturers, especially in an era of regional integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
PAMA made this remark at the just concluded GTR West Africa 2026 organised by Global Trade Review, focused on strengthening West Africa’s trade ecosystem through finance, infrastructure, export growth and digital innovation and held on April 22–23 at the Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos.
The GTR West Africa 2026 brought together a strong mix of business leaders, financiers, exporters, policymakers and industry stakeholders from across the region.
The event was well attended, with more than 400 senior professionals and representatives from over 200 companies participating in panel sessions, exhibitions and networking engagements, while discussions covered export diversification, supply chain finance, infrastructure bankability, agribusiness opportunities and the future of digital trade in West Africa.
The Pan African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) was represented at the summit as part of its continued engagement with key institutions shaping Africa’s industrial and trade future.
PAMA’s participation aligns with its mandate to promote industrialisation, competitive manufacturing ecosystems and stronger regional value chains across the continent.
Through its presence, PAMA engaged stakeholders on issues critical to manufacturers, including access to trade finance, export readiness, logistics efficiency, infrastructure investment and policies that can unlock industrial growth across African markets.
The conference also provided an opportunity as improved financing access and cross-border trade systems were highlighted as essential to helping manufacturers scale production, expand exports and create jobs.
The strong turnout at the West Africa’s edition reflects growing confidence in West Africa’s trade potential and the increasing importance of collaboration between finance and industry.
For PAMA, participation in the Lagos summit reinforces its commitment to ensuring that manufacturing remains central to Africa’s economic transformation agenda.