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Speech by Mahamat Abdoulahi, Officer in Charge, Trade, Finance, and Economic Development Division (TFED)
Distinguished Participants, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this very important workshop on Trade Facilitation and Aid for Trade organized by the African Trade Policy Centre in collaboration with the ICT, Science and Technology, and the NEPAD and Regional Integration Divisions of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). The theme of the workshop: Sustaining Trade Facilitation Gains through Effective Aid for Trade is quite relevant and timely as this event comes at a time when discussions on the enormous scale and complexity of trade facilitation challenges overshadow success stories across Africa . Yet we have witnessed considerable improvements in various aspects of trade facilitation over the past few years, which could contribute in improving intra-African trade as well as enhancing the continent's integration in the global economy. This workshop is therefore about reflecting on ways to build on Trade Facilitation achievements on the continent. Permit me, at the outset, to dwell on some of these achievements. In that regard, let me start with customs. There is considerable evidence that customs administrations have become more efficient as a result of major reforms. For instance, electronic networks linking customs posts at borders to customs administrations at seaports and airports have been introduced in several African countries and advanced computerized customs checking and clearance facilities such as ASYCUDA have also been introduced. Customs reforms have also included the implementation of computerized risk management systems and the extension of operating hours. Furthermore customs procedures are being harmonized at sub-regional levels and neighbouring countries are beginning to link their customs systems. All these have resulted in substantial reductions in clearance time. Reductions in clearance time have also resulted from the introduction of electronic Single Windows, linking the various stakeholders of international trade, including customs, customs brokers, banks, the treasury, traders and several government ministries. Today, traders in countries that have introduced Single Windows no longer need to visit each of these entities to obtain the required clearances. Senegal , Mauritius , Ghana and Tunisia are among the African countries that are enjoying the benefits of the Single Windows concept. Ladies and Gentlemen, In addition to customs reforms, we have observed improvements in the management of some border posts and ports over the past few years. For example, countries such as Rwanda have extended operating hours of borders while in Kenya the operating schedule of the port of Mombassa has been extended to 24 hours. As part of agreements between concerned countries, working hours in some adjacent border posts, including in the Trans Kalahari Corridor, have been aligned. New terminals are also being constructed at African ports, modern cranes installed, and more efficient management of the movement of trucks introduced with the view to further reducing delays. In addition, a number of transit countries have allocated space to landlocked countries at their ports in order to speed up the movement of goods on transit. Progress has also been made in the institutionalization of transit corridor management. In that regard, Corridor Management Institutions have been created using a variety of legal frameworks including MoUs, bilateral and multilateral agreements, and these institutions have contributed to the achievements I just mentioned. Essentially, they are involved in facilitating the removal of physical and non-physical barriers to transit transport, setting up stakeholders' networks including National Facilitation Committees, monitoring corridor performance, promoting business development along corridors and advocating for infrastructure improvement. The services of Corridor Management Institutions are critical to the economic development of Africa 's 15 landlocked countries that depend on their transit neighbours for access to the sea. In performing their functions, Corridor Management Institutions are assisting the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in achieving their objective of facilitating intra-African trade and thereby promoting regional integration. RECs are indeed at the forefront of trade facilitation efforts in Africa and are spearheading efforts to introduce Single Customs Documents, harmonise axle load limits, introduce weighbridges to prevent vehicle overload as well as set up one-stop border posts. Ladies and Gentlemen, ECA and its African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), supported by the Government of Canada through the Canada International Development Agency (CIDA), play an important role in facilitating trade in Africa . To that end, the Commission uses various strategies including research and advocacy as well as the organization of workshops and study tours that provide platforms for sharing of experiences and for linking RECs, member states and Corridor Management Institutions with potential donors. I would like, at this stage, to thank the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, whose representative is present at this workshop, for collaborating with ATPC and ECA in organizing the very successful workshop on trade facilitation and study tour of the port of Walvis Bay from 24-26 of February 2009. Partnerships are key to the implementation of our work programme. We therefore look forward to organizing similar events with other partners in the future. Several other international organisations and development partners also support African countries, RECs and sectoral organizations in their efforts to improve trade facilitation. In that regard, I would like to commend the work of the Sub Saharan Transport Policy Programme (SSATP); USAID and its sub-regional trade hubs; UNCTAD; the African Development Bank; SIDA, and the World Bank, among others. Distinguished Participants Sustaining the progress that has been made is a daunting challenge for Africa . Transport costs remain relatively high with several contributing factors including poor infrastructure, numerous checkpoints in some corridors, and inefficient transport services. Missing links still exist in regional transport corridors including the trans-African Highways network and railways are relatively old and need extensive rehabilitation. Furthermore, infrastructure at most borders are also quite old and inadequate for increasing traffic. Moreover, several adjacent border posts remain physically separated and most of them lack basic service facilities posing special challenges for truck drivers and women involved in cross-border trade. Traders also encounter problems in accessing warehouses for storage of goods. Other challenges include, reducing congestion at seaports, establishing dry ports, ensuring the sustainability of corridor management institutions, and fully implementing multilateral and regional agreements. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Aid for Trade Initiative and indeed other initiatives such as the Almaty Programme of Action as well as WTO negotiations on trade facilitation provide new opportunities to address some of these challenges. However, this workshop will focus on Aid for Trade. As most of you would be aware, it was launched with the purpose of helping developing countries, the least developed in particular, to build their supply-side capacity and infrastructure needed to take advantage of trade liberalization and enhance their participation in the world trading system. As trade facilitation is an integral part of Africa 's supply-side constraints, your task in the next two days would include identifying how best Aid for Trade could be harnessed in improving trade facilitation at the national and regional levels. Specifically, it is envisaged that during this workshop you would share experiences and assess progress in the implementation of regional and national trade facilitation programmes and projects; identify ongoing donor support and funding gaps in regional and national trade facilitation programmes and projects as well as priority areas for consideration under the Aid for Trade Initiative. You are also expected to identify elements for national and regional Aid for Trade strategies and contribute in articulating an African common position on the implementation of Aid for Trade. Ladies and Gentlemen, This is a historic event because a key item on the agenda is the launching of the Pan-African Alliance on E-Commerce. The establishment of the Alliance is aimed at intensifying cooperation between African countries and initiating projects of common interest to these countries especially in relation to the use of Single Windows. Permit me to seize this opportunity to sincerely thank Mr. Ibrahima Diagne, General Manager of GAINDE 2000 of Senegal , and his colleagues for working closely with the African Trade Policy Centre and the ICT, Science and Technology Division of ECA to ensure that the Alliance is successfully launched during this workshop. I would like to end by assuring you all of ECA's commitment not only to the success of the Pan-Africa Alliance on E-Commerce but also to continue supporting African countries, RECs and sub-regional organizations in their efforts to improve trade facilitation in general within Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world. I wish you a successful workshop. Thank you.
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