Expanding the TradeNet Experience
By Andrew Allimadi, Communication Officer, TRID, ECA
29 July 2004

Importing or exporting most things to and from Africa often poses severe challenges. Having to fill one form with the customs authorities, then another at the commercial bank, one or two more at the central bank, line-up for hours, sanitary and phytosanitary tests, lose your temper, are some of the obstacles you might come across. Now imagine being an import/export business that has to run this loop for a living. The net result is lower productivity and higher costs, less competitiveness and a threatened livelihood. This in essence is the challenge of trade facilitation and a Tunisian company has found a solution that cuts through much of the red tape.

The Tunisia TradeNet (TTN) operates an automated system that provides a one-stop trade documentation and processing system, linking all major actors in the chain. The central bank, commercial banks, customs and excise department, chamber of commerce, and all licensing authorities are linked to this electronic network, and a prospective exporter or importer only has to submit one document to TTN. The automated system then channels the information to where it is needed. The introduction of TTN in Tunisia cut the average time of document processing from eight days to three days, with an estimated productivity gain of seven percent.

In its efforts to inform Member States on best practices and success stories that exist in Africa, the Economic Commission for Africa organized a series of one-day meetings in six West and Central African countries where TTN made a presentation. The six countries visited are Niger, Mali, Togo, Benin, Gabon and Republic of Congo. Emmanuel Louzet from ECA's trade and regional integration divisions (TRID) accompanied TTN on this mission. During the visit, the Tradenet method was presented to ministries of commerce (some ministers also attending), senior officials at central banks, trade union leaders, chambers of commerce, port authorities and customs and excise authorities. Participants were generally impressed with the presentations and saw the clear advantages of having such a system in place. However, many countries and authorities also recognized some limitations that could stand in the way of implementation. Of particular importance is the availability of information communications infrastructure necessary to operate such an automated system, including the associated technical support. One possibility of overcoming this is to enlist political commitment at the highest level that would in turn support the introduction of such systems countrywide.

ECA and Tradenet will in future make presentations in other African countries. Tradenet is now working with port authorities in Pointe Noire, the Republic of Congo to install a similar system.