W’Central African Sub-region Tasked on Implementation of Int’l Conventions on Trade Facilitation
By Francis Ugwoke
The governments of West and Central African countries were Tuesday urged to develop an enduring framework for the implementation of International conventions and agreements that will facilitate trade in the region.
Particularly, participants attending the workshop and joint standing committee meeting of the Union of African Shippers’ Councils (UASC) in Abuja stressed the need for the domestication and implementation of the Convention on Facilitation of International Traffic otherwise known as FAL convention by countries in the region.
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) Mr. Hassan Bello had in his welcome address on the occasion identified the main objectives of the FAL convention as prevention of unnecessary delays in maritime traffic, aid cooperation between governments in the region.
Bello said the FAL Convention will ensure the highest practicable degree of uniformity in formalities and other procedures, in addition to reducing the number of declarations which can be required by different agencies at the ports.
Bello said that considering the objectives of the FAL convention, the sub-region should pay attention to measures that will make the ports in the region to be more user friendly and attractive to international trade.
He said, “We need to work assiduously to ensure that necessary policies are put in place to reap the full benefits of the FAL convention by improving service delivery at our ports”.
Bello added that for the FAL Convention to be effectively implemented, it was imperative to domesticate legislation to give effect to the convention.
Participants at the meeting said implementation of the FAL convention will address issues of corruption and delays in the ports when ships berth to discharge cargos.
In his presentation titled “Overview of the Convention on the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention), the Director of Trade Facilitation and Transport Observatory, Cameroon National Shippers Council, Mr Nkondje Ekenglo Alex said the ratification of the FAL convention by member states will promote trade in the region.
Identifying corruption and delays in documentation in the system in his country which is also applicable to other countries as testified by participants, Ekenglo called for the establishment of a FAL National Committee with the aim to simplify procedures and ruling on certain issues related to the implementation of the convention.
The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mr B. Ruwase who moderated the interactive session said it was imperative for member countries to brace up on the FAL convention to be able to have an efficient system .
Ruwase said if there was no efficiency, so much money will be lost.
Member countries, including the land-locked states were enjoined to hold awareness workshop on the FAL convention because of its positive impact on trade facilitation.
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