By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has signed a Concession Agreement with Bergmans
Security Consultants and Supplies Limited to support the proposed AfCFTA
Customs Modernisation Project.
The agreement was signed at
a high-level ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, and establishes a framework for
collaboration aimed at developing smarter, digitally enabled and
better-connected customs administrations across Africa.
The proposed Customs
Modernisation Project will focus on transforming customs processes through the
digitalisation and simplification of procedures, secure electronic exchange of
customs information and improved coordination among border management agencies.
The initiative will also
support the development of modern transit systems, stronger risk management
mechanisms, data analytics capabilities and capacity-building programmes for
customs authorities across the continent.
The AfCFTA Secretariat said
modernising customs systems is critical to achieving faster, safer and more
predictable trade at African borders and translating the objectives of the
continental free trade agreement into practical outcomes for businesses and
traders.
The digital transformation
of customs operations is expected to reduce administrative bottlenecks, improve
the movement of goods across borders and strengthen the ability of authorities
to manage trade-related risks.
The initiative is also
expected to contribute to improved transparency and the protection of public
revenue while facilitating legitimate intra-African trade.
