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Kara DIALLO Trade Information Manager, ALLIANCE BORDERLESS

BORDERLESS CONFERENCE 2014. BORDER INFORMATION CENTRES PROGRAM Challenges and Prospects. Kara DIALLO Trade Information Manager, ALLIANCE BORDERLESS kdiallo@borderlesswa.com Lagos, 26 février 2014. General Situation. Millions of farmers in West Africa.

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Kara DIALLO Trade Information Manager, ALLIANCE BORDERLESS

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  1. BORDERLESS CONFERENCE 2014 BORDER INFORMATION CENTRES PROGRAM Challenges and Prospects Kara DIALLO Trade Information Manager, ALLIANCE BORDERLESS kdiallo@borderlesswa.com Lagos, 26 février 2014

  2. General Situation Millions of farmers in West Africa Improper handling, storage, transportation cost prohibitive Under-investment, limited access to finance, energy costs Non-tariff barriers, inefficient transportation Customs procedures are slow and Complex International markets (Billions of dollars)

  3. 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. • Nationallegislation 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

  4. JUSTIFICATION • 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. Border Information Centres are platforms for exchange between all stakeholders in cross-border trade and thus serve to facilitate collaboration between them.

  5. MISSIONS OF BICs The main mission of IFC is to improve intra regional trade through the following objectives: Reduce the costs of trade between countries through improved procedures and reduced transit time at borders; Increase formal trade flows by reducing informal trade and smuggling.

  6. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

  7. DATE OF LAUNCH Ghana/Togo (August 2011) Burkina Faso /Ghana (September 2012) Bénin/Nigeria (December 2012) Port ofDakar (March 2013) Côte d’Ivoire/Ghana(May 2013)

  8. Dakola, Sep. 28, 2012 Krake, Dec. 11, 2012 Elubo, may 23 2013

  9. ACTIVITIES OF CENTRES • Dissemination of information (At the office and in the field with the both private and Public sectors) • Daily assistance to economic operators (customs documentation, linkage, interventions in the level of Customs, Police, etc…) • Training of border stakeholders (on customs procedures, regulations on trade and transport) • Survey on border crossing time • Facilitation meetings between cross border trade stakeholders (Advocacy for accelerated procedures)

  10. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION • Customs procedures and required documentationfor 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)

  11. ACTIVITIES OF CENTRES 2013 figures TRAINING

  12. ACTIVITES DES CENTRES 2013 en chiffres FACILITATION DES RENCONTRES

  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.  

  14. PROSPECTS I. Capacity building of existingBICs • 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) 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)

  15. We hope that everyone can move unhindered for better competitiveness of West African economies. Thank you for your kind attention

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