AFD research talks on non-price competitiveness in the WAEMU

The report "La compétitivité hors-prix de l’UEMOA : mesure et évaluation comparée" will serve as the basis for a discussion on the conditions for socio-economic development in WAEMU countries, with a particular focus on reducing structural vulnerabilities and improving the attractiveness of territories. Patrick Plane and Alban Ahouré, along with other panellists, will contribute to this discussion.

The issue of price competitiveness in the WAEMU zone is often discussed. The characteristics of the exchange rate regime naturally lead to this, given the rigidities that can be induced by monetary cooperation agreements, in particular the fixed exchange rate of the CFA franc. The real exchange rate is obviously an instrument for explaining economic performance, but it is not the only one, and not necessarily the most decisive, particularly in the WAEMU context where the multiple facets of vulnerabilities and attractiveness of national territories show their full importance.

The aim of this webinar is to contribute to the debate on the obstacles and levers for action to promote the development and economic diversification of WAEMU countries, with a focus on reducing structural vulnerabilities - particularly those linked to climate change - and improving the attractiveness of territories.

Sylvain Bellefontaine, Senior Economist at the Agence française de développement (AFD).

Patrick Plane, Director of Research, Cerdi-CNRS, Associate Professor, Université Clermont Auvergne, head of the Sustainable Competitiveness Observatory programme at FERDI.

Alban A. E. Ahouré, Professor at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senior Fellow, FERDI.

Abdoulaye Seck, Professor at Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.

Khady Evelyne Denise N'Diaye, Director of the Private Sector, Department of Enterprise Development, Energy, Mines and the Digital Economy (DEMEN), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

Kalidou Thiaw, Director of Forecasting and Economic Studies, West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).