Intra-manufacturing export performance among ecowas member state

Abstract

The study examined role economic integration and trade facilitation in promoting manufacturing export among ECOWAS member states The objectives of the study were achieved using descriptive, statistical and econometric analyses of annual data covering the period 2015 – 2020. The descriptive analysis helped in assessing the level of economic integration among ECOWAS member states. The econometric analyses were use examine the effect of economic integration on trade facilitation as well as the role of trade facilitation and economic integration in promoting manufacturing exports among ECOWAS member states. The findings reveal the level of trade facilitation in ECOWAS is below world average. That is ECOWAS member states has higher bureaucratic processes with greater costs of exporting/importing. Furthermore, results from econometric analyses reveal economic integration can significantly help in promoting manufacturing exports among ECOWAS member states. Again, economic integration and trade facilitation can significantly influence manufacturing exports across ECOWAS member states, while manufacturing production had direct and significant impact on manufacturing exports. Some policy recommendations that would help to facilitate trade flow to improve manufacturing exports across ECOWAS member states were recommended.