West Africa Connect gives participants the opportunity to find business partners for mangoes, cassava, and ICT services. This will be done via our online matchmaking platform, where buyers and suppliers can meet and match. So, how does matchmaking actually work? And what can you expect from it? Read all about it in this article.
Accessing and using the matchmaking tool
In order to discover the best from West Africa, you can register and select your business partners on our matchmaking platform. After registering, either as a buyer or supplier, an online profile wherein you can set your availability for online video calls or on-site meetings will be created. This ensures that other participants or organizations can see when you have time for a meeting. In the matchmaking database, you can find all the participants and organizations that have registered. To get a more specific overview, you can filter on organization types, areas of activities, as well as countries. When you find an interesting participant or organization you would like to match with, you can request a meeting and have a look at their full profile. Our system will then automatically suggest a timeslot when both of you are still free!
Besides the participant list, you can find a marketplace on our matchmaking tool in which you can filter on products that participants and organizations have to offer. The search bar allows you to specify the product you are looking for, such as dried mangoes or fresh cassava. Next to the participants and marketplace, you can find the full agenda of the event. This will give you a clear overview of everything that is happening during West Africa Connect and allows you to create your own personal agenda. In your personal agenda, you can find the webinars you decide to attend, as well as all the one-on-one meetings you have scheduled.
The importance of matchmaking
This matchmaking event is part of the West African Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP). The overall objective of this programme is to strengthen the competitiveness of West Africa and enhance the countries’ integration into the regional and international trading system, including the newly established African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA). The specific objective of the West Africa Connect event is to establish improved regional linkages amongst the key actors in the selected value chains, including improving the performance, growth and contribution to the industry, regional trade, and exports.