Frequently asked
questions.

Trade West Africa is a market intelligence research center focused on West Africa. We help businesses, investors and trade professionals understand the region's markets so they can decide where to sell, who to partner with and how to compete, based on evidence rather than guesswork.

Reliable commercial information about West Africa is often hard to find. It is scattered across languages, currencies, regional blocs and national rules, and official statistics miss much of the trade that crosses borders. We exist to close that gap. Our Research & Development team produces Market Intelligence Reports and Commercial & Competitive Intelligence, and alongside our research we train people through the Trade West Africa Academy, connect businesses through our Business Network, and help companies prepare for the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 (IATF2027) in Lagos.

Our services fall into five groups:

• Research & Intelligence: Market Intelligence Reports, Competitor Landscape & Benchmarking, Pricing Intelligence, and Customer & Sector Intelligence.
• IATF2027 Preparation: research, buyer and competitor briefs, target lists, positioning and follow-up for the Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 in Lagos.
• The Academy: online courses at three levels, Academy 101, 202 and 303.
• Business Network Membership: access to a growing network of African companies, buyers, suppliers and service providers.
• Business Support: Project Management, and Online Presence & Website Design.

See our Services page for full details.

We work with anyone who needs a clear picture of West African markets before committing time and money, including:

• Exporters and importers expanding into new West African markets
• Manufacturers and processors sourcing inputs within the region
• Logistics, finance and professional services firms that support trade
• Investors assessing opportunities in West Africa
• Trade associations, chambers of commerce and trade professionals

We also work with companies from outside Africa that want to enter West African markets, and with West African companies looking to grow across the region or beyond it.

We focus on West Africa: the 12 member states of ECOWAS (Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo) and the three countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger).

Where your plans reach beyond West Africa, for example trade with the rest of the continent under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), we can include that wider context in your research.

Our research is scoped around your product, service and target market, so we are not limited to a fixed list of sectors. If you are unsure whether we can cover your sector, contact us and we will tell you honestly.

We use official sources from these institutions in our research and point you to them wherever regulation matters, but our reports and advice are our own.

A Market Intelligence Report answers a specific market question, such as "Is there demand for my product in Ghana?" or "Which West African country should we enter first?" Our reports cover market size, demand, trends, prices and entry opportunities by sector and country, so you can test a new market, product or service on solid evidence before you commit.

Commercial & Competitive Intelligence helps you compete once you know which market you want. It includes:

• Competitor Landscape & Benchmarking: who your competitors are, and how their products, prices, channels and positioning compare with yours.
• Pricing Intelligence: price benchmarks for your product across countries, the effect of currency movements, and landed costs by market.
• Customer & Sector Intelligence: who buys, how they buy, what drives their decisions, and where each sector is heading.

Every piece of work is scoped around the decision you need to make. Before we start, we agree the questions the report will answer, the countries and products it will cover, and the format you will receive.

Our Research & Development team combines official statistics and trade data, publications from regional and national institutions, industry sources, and on-the-ground research in the markets we cover. In every report we tell you where the evidence is strong and where it is limited, so you know how much weight to put on each finding.

Each report is prepared for your project using the most recent information available at the time. West African markets and rules change quickly, so every report shows the date it was completed. Where a finding depends on a fact that changes often, such as a tariff rate or exchange rate, we tell you and point you to the official source so you can check the latest version.

Tell our team which products and markets you are considering, and we can discuss whether regulatory and market-access research belongs in your project scope. Our reports are business research, not legal, customs or tax advice. For a binding answer, confirm with the relevant authority or a licensed customs broker.

Please contact us to discuss your confidentiality requirements, including any non-disclosure agreement, before sharing sensitive business or project information.

Market research often raises new questions. If your needs change while we are working, tell us as early as possible. Small adjustments can usually be absorbed into the agreed scope. Larger changes, such as adding a new country or product, may affect the timeline and price, and we will agree any change with you before doing the extra work.

1. Tell us what you need. Use the Request a Report button or contact us with a short description of your product or service, the countries you are interested in, and the decision you need to make.
2. We agree the scope. Our team will contact you to clarify your questions and send you a proposal setting out what the work will cover, the timeline and the price.
3. Confirm and pay. Once you accept the proposal and payment is arranged, our Research & Development team starts work.
4. Receive your results. We deliver your report and walk you through the findings, and answer any follow-up questions.

Because each project is scoped around your needs, the price depends on the number of countries and products covered, the depth of research and the deadline. We will give you a clear quote in your proposal before any work starts.

Delivery time depends on the scope of the project. Your proposal will always state an agreed delivery date. If you have an urgent deadline, such as a board meeting or IATF2027, tell us at the start and we will tell you honestly what can be done in the time.

Please contact us to confirm the payment methods, currencies and payment terms available for your project before making a payment.

If you need to cancel or pause a project, please contact us as soon as possible so we can discuss the options and the terms that apply to your service.

Please contact us to ask about any available pricing options for your research project, team training or membership.

The Academy is our online learning programme. It teaches how West African trade really works, and takes you and your team from the fundamentals to advanced practice at your own pace. Courses are offered at three levels:

• Academy 101: the fundamentals of trading in West Africa.
• Academy 202: building on the basics for growing businesses.
• Academy 303: advanced practice for experienced trade professionals.

If you are new to trading in West Africa, start with Academy 101. If you already trade in the region and want to grow, Academy 202 is likely the right fit. Academy 303 is designed for experienced trade professionals. If you are not sure, contact us and we will help you choose.

Please contact us with the course level you are interested in and whether you are enquiring for yourself or a team. We will help you understand the available enrolment options.

Please contact us to confirm the assessment and certification options for the Academy course you are interested in.

The Academy is fully online, so you can learn from anywhere and at your own pace.

The Trade West Africa Business Network connects African companies, buyers, suppliers and service providers who want to grow through trade in the region. Membership helps you build the relationships that open new opportunities, and gives you a direct line to our team when you need deeper market answers.

As a member, you can:

• Connect with a growing network of African companies, buyers, suppliers and service providers.
• Find partners who handle logistics, customs, compliance and other services you may need in a new market.
• Stay close to the market through regular contact with a network of people trading in the region.
• Get support from our team when you need research, training or help with your next step.

The Business Network is designed for companies and organisations that trade in, or want to trade in, West Africa. If you are an individual, sole trader or independent trade professional, please contact us to discuss the membership options for your circumstances.

Browse our membership plans and use Become a Member to complete the application form. Our team will review your application and contact you about the next steps. Submitting the application does not activate membership or take payment.

The Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is one of Africa's biggest trade events, bringing together buyers, sellers, investors and governments from across the continent and beyond. The 2027 edition takes place in Lagos, Nigeria.

We help you arrive with a plan and leave with partners. Our preparation can include:

• Market research on the countries and buyers you want to reach
• Buyer and competitor briefs
• Target lists of companies to meet
• Advice on positioning your product or service
• Follow-up support after the fair, so contacts turn into business

Our IATF2027 service focuses on research, buyer and competitor briefs, meeting plans and follow-up support. For registration, exhibition space, tickets and official event information, please contact the IATF organisers directly.

As early as possible. Good research, target lists and meeting plans take time, and the best buyers' calendars fill up quickly before major fairs. Starting several months ahead gives you time to act on what the research shows.

Yes. Through our Project Management service, we help you plan, organise and deliver your market entry or expansion project, keeping timelines, budgets and partners on track.

Yes. Our Online Presence & Website Design service builds professional websites and the online presence your business needs to be found and trusted by new customers in new markets.

No. Trade West Africa provides market research and business intelligence, not legal, customs or tax advice. Our Regulations page explains how trade rules work across the region and points you to the official authorities that publish them. For a binding answer on your shipment, always confirm with the relevant authority or a licensed customs broker.

Our Regulations page lists the main frameworks (the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, the AfCFTA and WAEMU rules), the agencies that set the rules in each country, and the free official tools every trader should know, such as the ECOWAS ETLS portal and the AfCFTA e-Tariff Book.

You can browse our website, Regulations guide and free articles without an account. The front website and blog use the same account: sign in with your existing details. You can view your account after signing in.

After you sign in, open your account to view your account details. If you need help updating your information, please contact us.

Use the reset your password page and follow the instructions sent to your email. If you do not receive the email, check your spam folder or contact us.

Anyone can read our website, Regulations guide and free articles. If you are an individual, consultant or sole trader interested in research, training or membership, please contact us to discuss the service and eligibility requirements.

When you contact us or apply for a service, you are asked for information relevant to your enquiry or application. For questions about how your information is handled, please use our Contact form.

Yes. Our blog and Latest Insights section share articles on West African markets and trade. You can also subscribe to our newsletter using the sign-up form below.

If you have a problem with the website, a question about our services or anything else, please send a message through our Contact form. Include the service or page you are asking about so our team can help.

We welcome your feedback, ideas and suggestions. They help us decide which markets, sectors and services to develop next. Please share them through our Contact form. If there is a market, report or course you would like us to offer, tell us. Your request may shape our next piece of research.

Please tell us your preferred language and the markets you are interested in when you contact us. Our team will confirm the research and delivery options available for your project.