As part of the boosting of intra-community trade within the WAEMU area, the Network of Trade Promotion Bodies of WAEMU Member States (ROPC / UEMOA) chaired by Mr. Guy M’BENGUE, has just held, with Business France, its technical partner and under the aegis of the Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the French Embassy in Burkina Faso, Focal Point of French Cooperation in West Africa , the 1st meeting of the Regional Steering Committee of the International African Talents System (TAI).
The opening ceremony of this meeting was chaired by Professor Filiga Michel SAWADOGO, Commissioner in charge of the Regional Market and Cooperation Department, representative of the President of the Commission, Mr. Abdoulaye DIOP. The French Ambassador to Burkina Faso, His Excellency Luc HALLADE and Mr. Christophe LECOURTIER personally took part in this ceremony. This mechanism aims to set up in the UEMOA space an original instrument, inspired by the experience of French International Volunteering in Business (VIE), but adapted to the realities of West Africa. It will support government policies for the employment of young people, their integration into the economic fabric and the international development of large, medium and small enterprises (SMEs) and intermediate professional organizations. The TAI Device will offer economic institutions and young people looking for professional international experience, a melting pot to promote themselves abroad and contribute to regional integration in the UEMOA area, by extension, to ECOWAS. and finally, at the level of the AfCFTA. This opportunity became concrete thanks to the grant from the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs acquired through the French Embassy in Burkina Faso and thanks to the personal commitment of Ambassador Luc HALLADE for the start-up phase of the project which is scheduled for 18 months.
This grant made within the framework of the Solidarity Fund for Innovative Projects (FSPI) is a springboard that will mobilize other additional resources to maximize the use of economic volunteering in companies in the UEMOA space for youth employment and the development of international business markets. In this context and in the very short term, a platform will be set up for the registration and selection of candidates (companies and young volunteers) for their placements in the target markets of neighboring countries within the WAEMU area. All member states are concerned, however, for the pilot phase, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal will be the pioneers. It is expected that during the first quarter of 2022, the first Young TAI volunteers will be deployed in the field, for a period of two years. For the period 2022-2023, it is expected that the pilot system will be extended to all UEMOA member states and in 2024, the future extension of the missions of the Young Tai Volunteers beyond the UEMOA area.
In order to make this “dream” a concrete reality, Business France, a French organization for the promotion of exports and the international development of the French economy, is the executing agency to implement this project, including the Network. of the Trade Promotion organizations of UEMOA member states (ROPC / UEMOA) is the contracting authority. The UEMOA Commission, which oversees ROPC / UEMOA, first provides moral support while waiting to provide financial resources for this very promising project for youth employment and international economic expansion. of SMEs. Other technical partners also bring their expertise to it. These are the Inter-Governmental Agency of La Francophonie (OIF), the International Trade Center (CCI / ITC), the International Organization of Volunteers (OIV),
