Modernizing Customs: Funding promised

Funders have pledged to finance development projects of the Customs after the donor conference ended on Thursday in Yaoundé.

For the Minister of Finance, Alamine Ousmane Mey, funding for national and regional programs are the main assets of the first pledging conference of the World Customs Organization Region of West and Central Africa (MDG-AOC) completed yesterday in Yaoundé.

23 countries in the region took part in the fund-raising workshop for Customs modernization in Central Africa and West. "Some Customs administrations are to benefit from numerous financial supports. Others will follow," said Ousmane Mey.

According to the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Kunio Mikuriya, the priorities are in line with the strengthening the capabilities of members of these administrations.

These are programs which, according to the Director General of Cameroon Customs, Minette Libom Li Likeng, will certainly impact every country represented.

"The commitment of the 23 countries in the region is real. We discussed with the donors who understood that it is important to care about the relationship between the resources invested and the needs expressed by the structures, "she explained.

The objective of the Yaoundé workshop was to create a framework for dialogue between customs administrations, donors and other strategic partners. "Projects were evaluated. Donors appreciated and were engaged. What is certain is that Customs reform is expensive. Other projects will materialize in the coming days,” added the Dg.

This is to facilitate trade, strengthen control over goods and people, to ensure the safety and protection of society and the environment as customs Central and West Africa have started a process of modernization their administrations.

The reform which will result in the simplification of procedures, improvement of the control system, upgrading computer systems and protecting the economic aspect was conducted on the theme: "Financing Constraints and Opportunities for customs modernization policies in the context of facilitating and securing trade".

Thus, the discussions went in the direction of mobilization and optimization of resources for financing the reform and customs modernization programs. For the DG of Customs, the initial objectives have been achieved.