kara diallo trade information manager, alliance borderless
DESCRIPTION
BORDERLESS CONFERENCE 2014. BORDER INFORMATION CENTRES PROGRAM Challenges and Prospects. Kara DIALLO Trade Information Manager, ALLIANCE BORDERLESS [email protected] Lagos, 26 février 2014. General Situation. Millions of farmers in West Africa. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Kara DIALLOTrade Information Manager, ALLIANCE BORDERLESS
[email protected] Lagos, 26 février 2014
BORDER INFORMATION CENTRES PROGRAM
Challenges and Prospects
BORDERLESS CONFERENCE 2014
General SituationMillions of
farmers in West Africa
International markets
(Billions of dollars)
Under-investment,
limited access to finance,
energy costs
Customs procedures
are slow and Complex
Non-tariff barriers, inefficient
transportation
Improper handling, storage,
transportation cost prohibitive
ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme Gap Analysis FINDINGS
ETLS Information Dissemination Private sector has limited knowledge and
access to information on official customs procedures for goods and vehicles in transit.
National legislation is difficult to obtain on procedures for transportation.
Movement of Goods Duty free treatment for unprocessed goods is
not being implemented contrary to the ETLS.
Documentary requirements for intra-ECOWAS trade have not been harmonized across the region, leading to higher administrative costs and delays at borders.
Non-tariff barriers persist, in the form of quantity, quota or seasonal restrictions, in addition to checkpoints and road barriers
Transport Differing axle-load limits, vehicle
standards and inspection requirements exist across the region
• Administrative procedures in conflict with regional rules drive up transport costs
During the Gap Analysis of ETLS, the private sector has reported various differences that impede the free movement of vehicles and goods across borders.
Studies in nine countries of the sub region have identified access to information as a key obstacle to the consistent implementation of ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme.
In 2011, the USAID West Africa Trade Hub has developed the "Border Information Center" initiative to help solve this critical issue, the access to information at the borders.
JUSTIFICATION
Border Information Centres are platforms for exchange between all stakeholders in cross-border trade and thus serve to facilitate collaboration between them.
MISSIONS OF BICs
The main mission of IFC is to improve intra regional trade through the following objectives:
1. Reduce the costs of trade between countries through improved procedures and reduced transit time at borders;
2. Increase formal trade flows by reducing informal trade and smuggling.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Identify Border for Potential BIC
Field Assessment & Host Identification
Stakeholder Buy-In: Presentation of Field Assessment Results
Defining Partner Roles and Responsibilities
Baseline Assessment on Border Crossing Times
Compile Guide on Goods Clearance Processes
Communications Materials and Information Packets
BIC Staffing
BIC Office Facilities and equipping
Launch of the Center
BIC Operations
DATE OF LAUNCH
1. Ghana/Togo (August 2011)
2. Burkina Faso /Ghana (September 2012)
3. Bénin/Nigeria (December 2012)
4. Port of Dakar (March 2013)
5. Côte d’Ivoire/Ghana(May 2013)
BIC Host Institution Contacts
Noé Mr. Iba TIAPhone: +225 09 18 24 01 +225 07 69 21 82Email: [email protected]
Elubo
Mr. Robertson AFFUMPhone: +233 508 923 157 +233 245 535 127Email: [email protected]
Aflao Mr. Seth DOVLOPhone: +233 244 209 966Email: [email protected]
Kraké
Mr. Christophe Cossi GNIMAVOPhone: +229 66 17 85 85+229 97 61 61 98Email: [email protected]
Seme Mr. Joseph BAMIGBOYEPhone: +234 803 333 4287Email: [email protected]
Dakola/Ouagarinter Mr. Dieudonné BATIONOPhone:+226 50 40 40 41 +226 74 52 88 88Email: [email protected]
Port de Dakar Mr. Jean Baptiste DIOUFPhone : +221 33 849 07 07Email : [email protected]
Dakola, Sep. 28, 2012
Krake, Dec. 11, 2012
Elubo, may 23 2013
9
ACTIVITIES OF CENTRES
1. Dissemination of information (At the office and in the field with the both private and Public sectors)
2. Daily assistance to economic operators (customs documentation, linkage, interventions in the level of Customs, Police, etc…)
3. Training of border stakeholders (on customs procedures, regulations on trade and transport)
4. Survey on border crossing time
5. Facilitation meetings between cross border trade stakeholders (Advocacy for accelerated procedures)
- Customs procedures and required documentation for goods (brochures);
- Regulations on transport and required documentation for vehicles, and drivers (Drivers Guide);
- Agreements and various protocols of ECOWAS and UEMOA on Trade, Transport and Inter-State Transit (Reports and flyers)
DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION
ACTIVITIES OF CENTRES2013 figures
TRAININGTHEME VENUE PARTICIPANTS
Stakeholders’ Training on border crossing trade
Paga (Ghana) Seme (Nigeria)
Elubo (Ghana)
60 participants : Customs, Freight Forwarders, Transporters’ Unions, GCNET, BIVAC 45 participants : freight forwarders, transporters and shipping agents 43 mainly clearing agents
Customs procedures for goods in Transit
Paga (Ghana) Dakola (Burkina Faso)
49 freight forwarders 53 freight forwarders
Schemes on importation and exportation
Kodjoviakope (Togo) Noe (Côte d’Ivoire)
32 freight forwarders 27 participants : freight forwarders, Customs, transporters
Customs duties and operation in the ASYCUDA++
Krake (Benin)
17 freight forwarders
Customs regimes and their codification in ASYCUDA++
Porto Novo (Benin) Kodjoviakopé (Togo) Ouagarinter (Burkina Faso)
58 Customs Officers 30 Clearing agents 50 participants : clearing agents, Customs, COTECNA and CBC
Training Session on SYADAM Noe (Côte d’Ivoire) 13 freight forwarders
TOTAL 12 Sessions 477
ACTIVITES DES CENTRES2013 en chiffres
FACILITATION DES RENCONTRESTHEME VENUE PARTICIPANTS
Stakeholders’ Meeting on trade facilitation issues (Discussions, recommendations, Advocacy)
Aflao (Ghana)
70 participants: Customs, Immigration, Clearing agents, Police
Noe (Côte d’Ivoire)
26 participants: Customs, Police, FRCI (Côte d’Ivoire army), OFT, OIC, Phyto-sanitary and veterinary services, clearing agents, transporters and traders association
Elubo (Ghana)
35 participants: Customs, freight forwarders’ Association, BIVAC and GSA
Paga (Ghana)
15 participants: Customs, GSA, Freight Forwarders, Police, Port Health, Immigration and the Department of Agriculture
Dakola (Burkina Faso)
15 participants : Customs, Police, Gendarmerie, the Chamber of Commerce, CBC, Freight Forwarder’s Association, and the transporter’s Union
Ouagarinter (Burkina Faso)
43 participants: Customs, Police, Gendarmerie, National Health Laboratory, Direction of Road Transport, CBC, CCI-BF, Freight forwarders, Transporters Association, trucks drivers, COTECNA
Cotonou (Bénin) Seme (Nigeria)
24 participants : Direction of Road Transport, CNCB, Port of Cotonou, Chamber of Commerce, Freight Forwarder’s Association, Transporter’s Association, ALCO 30 participants: Customs, Clearing Agents, Transporters, Nigeria Shipper’s Council, medias
TOTAL 8 Meetings facilitated 258
13
SERVEY ON BORDER CROSSING TIME
The data were collected in the period between October 7th and November 15th, and the sample size for the data was 240 for the whole survey.
The survey was undertaken by interviewing truck drivers, clearing agents, Customs officials, and other stakeholders whose services have direct impact on clearing procedures.
In general, the survey concluded that delays at the borders are not only caused by customs procedures, but also caused in various ways by traders, drivers and freight forwarders.
The survey thus suggests that it is also necessary to sensitize these stakeholders, particularly on the need to have the necessary funds and documentation available where required, in order to reduce delays.
PROSPECTSI. Capacity building of existing BICs
II. Projects to create new BICs- Cinkassé (Togo/Burkina Faso border)- Niangoloko (Côte d’Ivoire/Burkina Faso border)- Malanville – Gaya (Benin/Niger border)- Kidira – Diboli (Sénégal/Mali border)
- Information and Sensitization Workshop at Dakar Port
- 2nd Border Information Centres Forum : Trade Advisors’s Training in Management ; Revision of the intervention strategy; Integration of new activities in the work plan (new performance indicators)
We hope that everyone can move unhindered for better competitiveness of West African economies.
Thank you for your kind attention