Embracing the Web of Life: Why It’s Time to Reconnect with Our Interconnected World
Lomé welcomes, for 3 days between September 24 and 27, 2024, customs experts from 4 countries: Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Togo. Objective, to take stock of the operation of the interconnection of customs administration computer systems between stakeholders and to discuss transport statistics. New parameters for securing goods in transit by strengthening the electronic goods tracking system will be defined.
After their commitments made during the Niamey meeting on July 22 and 23, 2024, the aim of which is to guarantee the free movement of people, goods and services between their States, general directors and customs experts of the member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) participates in an evaluation meeting in Lomé alongside the first officials of the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR). The aim of the meeting is to assess the interconnection of the customs computer systems of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Togo and draw up recommendations with the intention of facilitating transport within the AES -Togo area.
The Lomé meeting comes two months after the one held on July 23, 2024 in Niamey in Niger where the foundations of this interconnection were laid for more liquid and secure commercial exchanges between the three AES countries and Togo. The meeting, which opened on September 24, 2024, was chaired by the Commissioner General of the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR), Philippe Kokou Tchodie.
In Lomé, the directors general of the 3 states of the AES welcomed the commitment of the four heads of state to work together to ensure the success of the project to interconnect customs computer systems. As part of this interconnection project, it will not only be a question of raising the economies of the stakeholders but also of guaranteeing the well-being of their populations.
For Abou Oubandawaki, Director General of Niger Customs, the “meeting on key issues related to the construction of our confederation and our strategic partnership with Togo would not have seen the light of day” without the support of the highest authorities of the Togolese Republic and the AES Confederation.
Implementation of major WCO instruments, according to OTR commissioner
The option of coordinating their customs administration computer systems, the stakeholders aim to: systematize the exchange of information related to transport operations and other customs procedures; facilitating, monitoring and harmonizing commercial data between the parties; create a system for the transfer of supporting documents for shipping operations and customs procedures. While welcoming the Lomé meeting, he believes that this confirms the commitment of the four countries to strengthen their cooperation for the success of the project in the sub-region.
“The ultimate aim of this meeting is to strengthen the monitoring of the movement of goods, making it possible to detect anomalies, to improve the traceability of products to combat counterfeit and illegal products, to improve the handling of goods through data sharing, reduce customs border fraud and modernize customs. services. In the current context marked by security threats, it is more necessary than ever to take all appropriate measures to secure the logistics chain across the various corridors and between our States.stated at the opening of the work, Philippe K.TCHODIE confirming, in recent months, that the figures related to regional transport published in Togo towards the hinterland countries have progressed significantly.
“Statistics from the end of August 2024 show that Togo’s trade with AES countries represents 74% of all its trade, compared to 64% 5 years ago, an increase of 10 points”informs the general commissioner of the OTR who took the opportunity to pay tribute to President Faure Gnassingbé for his policy of openness and his commitment to diversifying the partnership with all states, especially those of the AES.
TGT
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