West Africa stands at a defining crossroads. As global aid recedes and trade alliances shift, West Africa is being challenged to take ownership of its economic future through industrialisation, infrastructure development intra-regional trade, and strategic global trade expansion. To address these challenges, stakeholders from across the region will convene in Lagos from 21-23 October for the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade (West Africa – IMT) Summit & Exhibition 2025.
Ghana’s recent government procurement directive prioritising locally manufactured products signals a shift from dependency toward deliberate domestic value creation. This initiative is unfolding alongside the country’s projected 32% increase in cocoa output, a development that positions Ghana not only as a commodity producer but also as a potential manufacturing hub for processed goods. With new industrial parks offering incentives to manufacturers and logistics operators, Ghana is aligning infrastructure with policy to support long-term industrial capacity.
Similarly, Senegal is demonstrating a production-focused approach that’s generating tangible results. Industrial output has surged by over 19% year-on-year, with key growth across textiles, food processing, and poultry manufacturing. Government-backed support, including subsidies to local producers and the expansion of energy grid capacity to industrial zones, is turning policy into performance. Trade flow improvements, driven by strategic agreements with neighbouring countries, show the measurable impact of this alignment. These country-led transformations set the stage for deeper regional collaboration, the kind that the West Africa – IMT Summit and Exhibition is designed to foster.
Both countries’ policy directions underscore a broader trend: a new West African ambition rooted in practical reform and long-term competitiveness. While Ghana is actively pursuing export diversification under the AfCFTA, targeting processed foods, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods, sectors built on its strong agricultural and mineral base, Senegal is reinforcing its role as a logistics and industrial gateway with major investments in port infrastructure in Dakar and a wave of mid-sized manufacturing startups spreading across urban hubs.
Speaking to the policies, Wemimo Oyelana, Country Director – Nigeria & Portfolio Director –Energy for dmg Nigeria events, emphasised, “In a world moving rapidly toward locally rooted production and trade-driven partnerships, what we are seeing across West Africa is a series of concrete steps toward building the ecosystem required for industries to thrive. The region is beginning to match ambition with structure, and potential with performance. But that momentum must now be reinforced with infrastructure, investment, and deliberate execution. The West Africa IMT Summit is not just about spotlighting success stories, but also connecting the dots between policy, capital and capacity, to scale real, lasting transformation across the region.”
The three-day summit will connect investors, industrialists, policymakers, and trade experts through sector-focused dialogue spanning manufacturing incentives, energy access, logistics optimisation, and regional trade frameworks.
West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition 21-23 October 2025 I Landmark Centre | Lagos | Nigeria
