Kara DIALLO Trade Information Manager, ALLIANCE BORDERLESS Lagos, 26 février 2014 BORDER INFORMATION CENTRES PROGRAM Challenges and Prospects BORDERLESS CONFERENCE 2014

General Situation Millions 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 2Month 3Month 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 InstitutionContacts Noé Mr. Iba TIA Phone: Elubo Mr. Robertson AFFUM Phone: Aflao Mr. Seth DOVLO Phone: Kraké Mr. Christophe Cossi GNIMAVO Phone: Seme Mr. Joseph BAMIGBOYE Phone: Dakola/Ouagarinter Mr. Dieudonné BATIONO Phone: Port de Dakar Mr. Jean Baptiste DIOUF Phone : Dakola, Sep. 28, 2012 Krake, Dec. 11, 2012 Elubo, may

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 CENTRES 2013 figures TRAINING THEMEVENUEPARTICIPANTS 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 Sessions477

ACTIVITES DES CENTRES 2013 en chiffres FACILITATION DES RENCONTRES

13 SERVEY ON BORDER CROSSING TIME The data were collected in the period between October 7 th and November 15 th, 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.

PROSPECTS I. 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 -2 nd 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.