The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is making strides to enhance the efficiency of cross-border transit for its member states, with a particular focus on West Africa. One key initiative involves digitalising customs procedures along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. The project, aimed at streamlining customs operations and improving trade flows, was presented to the Togolese Head of State, Faure Gnassingbé, on Friday, 29 April 2022.
"We have already mobilized the necessary resources to implement this agenda. We are now ready to work with ECOWAS and the Togolese government. The focus is therefore on finding ways to consolidate these efforts to enhance the efficiency of customs processes," explained Wamkele Mene following his meeting with President Faure Gnassingbé.
The Abidjan-Lagos corridor is a crucial component of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and forms part of the larger Dakar-Lagos coastal sub-regional route, connecting five countries: Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria. The ongoing work on the Abidjan-Lagos motorway, spanning 1,081 kilometers, is designed to facilitate faster trade across this vital trans-African road network.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Secretary General of AfCFTA commended the progress made in advancing the organization's strategies. He reaffirmed AfCFTA's commitment to supporting member countries in eliminating trade barriers, further promoting intra-African trade, and driving economic integration across the continent.
(Credit: TogoFirst)