The UN/CEFACT Forum—a meeting of experts from around the world working within the global remit of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) - held its 18th meeting in Geneva from 19 to 23 September. This was the first UN/CEFACT Forum to be organized under the new streamlined project-oriented structure, aimed at timely delivery of recommendations and standards focused on stakeholder needs. Participants included business and technology experts from 30 UN Member States, international organizations and other stakeholders. While more than 80 experts participated in the Geneva working sessions, additional experts located around the globe also contributed through teleconferencing. The Forum reviewed all 60 current projects and aligned them with new, simplified procedures within the UN/CEFACT cross-sectoral Programme Development Areas (PDAs). These cover business processes both for governments and for the private sector which can promote growth in international trade and related services. The Forum also addressed maintenance issues concerning most of UN/CEFACT’s widely used products, such as UN/EDIFACT.  

On the sidelines of the Forum, concept paper of Worldwide Alliance for Global Paperless Trade has been presented by ASEAL and African Alliance for e-Commerce (AAEC) to members of Trade and Transport facilitation on September, 22. All members confirmed their interest to this initiative.

The 2^nd edition of the International Single Window Conference was held on 8-9^th June 2011 at Le Méridien President Hotel in Dakar, Senegal. The opening ceremony was chaired by the Senegalese Ministry of Trade in the presence of the Director General of Customs, trade facilitation experts and representatives of international institutions and the private sector. Held on the theme: “From automated to paperless trade formalities” the Conference enabled delegates to peruse Single Window implementation stages, single window initiatives, emerging projects and funding opportunities.

Following are the different themes addressed during the Conference:

Single Window implementation stages

• Consensus Phase: Establishing a broad and solid consensus;
• Design Phase: Reconciling legal technical and organizational issues to define the appropriate single window model ;
• Operation Phase: Assuring performances of a Single Window and a sustained improvement.

Future prospects

• Changes needed for the upcoming decade
• Donors and Single Windows.

 The following recommendations were made at the end of the proceedings:

• Ponder over the possibility of establishing a Global Alliance for cross border  paperless trade;
• Promote the dissemination and use of open standards and international recommendations for effective and interoperable trade;
• Encourage bilateral, sub-regional and regional pilot projects;
• Foster the sharing of experiences for the rapid evolution  of Single Window models towards the best practices;
• Recommend a conducive framework and boost the attractiveness of technical assistance and the funding of national single window projects;
• Encourage the creation of a network of regional experts in Africa , like UNEXT CAP, to prop up the preparation and implementation of cross border trade;
• Establish regional data models.

The 2^nd Forum of the African Alliance for E-Commerce (AAEC) was held at Le Meridien President Hotel in Dakar on 7^th June 2011 under the chairmanship of the Director General of Customs. Attending the meeting were representatives of international institutions, trade facilitation experts, delegates representing AAEC member countries including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo. The Forum also saw the participation of members of the Asia-Europe Alliance for Paperless Trade (ASEAL).

During the proceedings, experts laid emphasis on the prospects under the three AAEC Commissions (Projects, Standards and Technology, Organization and Promotion), and the common orientation at setting up a Worldwide Alliance for Paperless Trade likely to federate all paperless trade initiatives around the world.

During the Forum, new members joined the African Alliance and discussions were held on the establishment of pilot projects of regional Single Windows.

The 6^th ASEAL Summit was staged on 6^th June 2011 at Le Meridien President Hotel in Dakar. Under the co-chairmanship of ASEAL and AAEC Chairmen, the Summit was a platform of exchanges on the main challenges and the technical, organizational and legal requirements for paperless trade.

The proceedings also touched on the latest trends in terms of trade facilitation, paperless and cross border trade. Pursuant to the recommendations of the 5^th Summit held in Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia, the Dakar Summit examined the possibility of establishing a Worldwide Alliance for Paperless Trade.

The GME is hosted bi-annually around the world in various locations. This meeting was held at LMI in McLean, Virginia from 28 march to 1 April 2011. Business experts from around the world took part to this meeting in order to work and develop international data standards. Individual groups from such disparate topics as supply chain, environment, accounting, transportation and logistics, agriculture and customs focused on the collaboration of trade standards, within these business processes.The GME also provides a platform for experts working with UN/CEFACT, to collaborate on current activities and future topics.UN/CEFACT aimed at facilitating national and international transactions, through the simplification and harmonisation of processes, procedures and information flows in order to contribute to the growth of global commerce.

The Executive Committee of the African Alliance for e-Commerce held a technical workshop in Douala(Cameroon) at the headquarters of GUCE from 9 to 11 December 2010. Members stressed the role of the Alliance that is to enable Africa to implement its own vision of electronic commerce and expressed the need to possess a more solid basis for developing trade between African countries. On this basis, a number of projects have been identified by Commission of projects and standards and technologies. During the workshop, members have defined means and ways to implement 08 projects related to : e-certificat of origine, e-invoice, e-déclaration, mutual recognition of digital infrastructure, digital certification of documents (National & International), guide to set up standards, guide for paperless trade implementation,  capacity building workshops on norms and standards.

The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitation Forum aims to promote trade facilitation. The Forum provides an open regional platform to exchange information, experiences and practices for trade facilitation in Asia-Pacific, identify priority areas for regional cooperation and integration, and learn about new tools and services which can increase the efficiency of cross-border to improve competitiveness of firms in the region. The Forum also intends to strengthen regional cooperation and coordination of Aid for Trade and related technical assistance and capacity building in trade facilitation. In addition to regular panel and breakout sessions, an Exhibition on Trade Facilitation is organized in parallel to maximize information sharing on the works, practices, case studies and findings of trade facilitation service providers, researchers, as well as development/donor agencies, international organizations and government agencies.

“Trade Facilitation for Regional Connectivity: Advancing Paperless Trade” was the theme of this edition. GAINDE 2000 has been invited to this 2nd edition. The team on site took part to the exhibition ans presented the Senegal Paperless trade case.

The United Nations, through its Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), undertakes work on a global level to support activities dedicated to improving the ability of business, trade and administrative organizations, from developed, developing and transition economies, to exchange products and relevant services effectively.

The 17th session of the UN/CEFACT Forum was held at the Centre International de Conférence – Geneva from 30 August to 3 September 2010. As member of the TBG15 (facilitation and trade), GAINDE 2000 took part to this event and got interested in works being done by experts on e-governance.

The General Assembly meeting of AACE was held on 1^st June 2010 in Addis Abeba (Ethiopia). Representants from Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, Libya, Madagascar, Senegal, Congo, Togo; Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Kenya, Mali, Tunisia attended this meeting. The Officer in charge of Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade Division of UNECA launched the meeting. In his speech, he mentioned that trade facilitation initiatives allow, from a single point, to comply with the formalities of foreign trade easily and promptly. Single window can reduce the costs of procedures and formalities of foreign trade. In order to promote trade facilitation, CEA has been supporting the initiative to bring together all African Single Window operators in a single structure with the creation of AAEC, which contributes to the integration of our economies. For his 2nd General Assembly, AACE revised the following points:

• Activities Report;
• Financial Report;
• Projects;
• Upcoming actions;
• Admission of new members.

A road map has been adopted for each project in pipeline. During the last Steering Committee held in Accra, many projects have been identified:

• Pilot projects (exchange of e-docs) among members ;
• Inter regional pilot projects (Africa Regional Economic Communities  and other around the world) ;
• Technical and financial partnership agreements with donors (to support projects and Technical assistance);
• Standards implementation guide  ;
• Paperless implementation guide ;
• …

Countries like Mali, Tunisia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya have expressed their wish to join the African Alliance.

The Malian capital hosted from 11th to 12th March 2010 the 15th Conference of Customs Commissioners of West and Central African countries. The 2-day confab was presided over by Malian Prime Minister, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization and the Deputy WCO Chairman in charge of the West and Central African region. The themes on the agenda touched on the customs requirements of the 21st century: modernization of customs procedures, capacity-building, customs-private sector partnership, exchange of information, fraud control, provision of funding to regional bodies, automation of procedures. When addressing the theme on Customs-Private sector Partnership, Customs Administrations seized the occasion to exchange on the experiences underway in their respective countries. Thus, Senegal unveiled its experience that has culminated in the creation of GAINDE 2000.

Information and Communication Technologies, has fundamentally changed the way people communicate, work and earn their livelihood. It has forged new ways to create knowledge, educate people and disseminate information. It has restructured the way the world conducts economic and business practices, runs governments and engages politically. Considering this reality, the Assembly of the Heads of State at the Second Ordinary Session of the African Union Summit held in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia a Summit on “Information and Communications Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development” from 25 January to 02 February 2010.

In order to show case innovative ICT projects and to demonstrate the role that ICT can play in Africa’s socioeconomic development, an exhibition on Information Communication Technologies and innovation for Africa was organized with the technical cooperation of ECA. The exhibition runs in parallel with the 2010 Summit of Heads of States and Governments. GAINDE 2000, part of Senegalese stand, has showcased ORBUS (Customs electronic Single Window) and CORUS (e-payment customs solution) as products playing a major role on socioeconomic development.

Kuala Lumpur hosted on 18-19^th January 2010, the 5^th ASEAL Summit. Delegations from Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Oceania took part in the Summit sponsored by DagangNet. After taking stock of the paperless trade situation worldwide, delegates addressed issues relative to the following: 

• Trade and flow of investments;
• Obstacles to the launching of paperless trade projects;
• Costs of commercial activities.

In its capacity as ASEAL observer member, GAINDE 2000 presented the African Alliance for e-Commerce created in March 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and its ongoing paperless trade project launched in July 2009 in Senegal.

The Executive Committee of the African Alliance for e-Commerce held its second meeting on 9-10^th December 2009 in Accra, Ghana. The meeting was organized by GCNet of Ghana. Addressing the audience at the opening ceremony, the Ghanaian Minister of Communication, in charge of IT development laid emphasis on the advantages of e-business in the promotion of national development. In this respect, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has conducted several studies aimed at backing the development and harmonizing of relevant policies and rules in a bid to promote the expansion of e-commerce all over the continent. ECOWAS has also issued guidelines to facilitate e-trade within the sub region.Members recalled the genesis of the African Alliance for e-Commerce and adopted a work plan. A roadmap of the main activities to carry out has been drafted. The Alliance aims to set up a platform meant to be a framework of promotion for Single Window operators, a resource center for countries having a Single Window project, but also an interface with international bodies and donors. It also seeks to promote standards and technologies in terms of exchanges of trade-related documents.

The 6^th edition of the DEMAT’EXPO Show took place on 1^st – 2^nd December 2009 at “La Grande Arche de la Défense” in Paris. Staged by e-Business Events in partnership with the National Third Party Federation (FNTC), the Paris Show gathered some 80 exhibitors and 120 lecturers among the top specialists of paperless processes. Many professionals came to meet them and enquire about their processes of archiving, storage and management of e-documents, security and certification, not to mention the ever-evolving legal aspects, innovations and e-administration.As part of the paperless project in Senegal, GAINDE 2000 experts seized the occasion to meet with companies, experts and suppliers of paperless solutions, electronic signature and e-archiving.   

The Asia-Pacific Trade Facilitate Forum was held in the United Nations Conference Center of Bangkok, on 25-26 november 2009. The forum aims to promote trade facilitation as an important component of a comprehensive strategy for national and regional development and provides an open regional platform to exchange information, experiences and practices for trade facilitation in Asia-Pacific, identify priority areas for regional cooperation and integration, and learn about new tools and services which can increase the efficiency of cross-border transactions that will ultimately improve the competitiveness of firms in the region. Moreover, the Forum intends to strengthen regional cooperation and coordination of Aid for Trade and related technical assistance and capacity building in trade facilitation. GAINDE 2000 took part to the multimedia exhibition held on the sidelines of the forum and was selected  for “in room demonstration”. This session allows participants to demonstrate best practice programs, solutions, and implementation.

Modern Customs Administrations use different inspection technologies and software applications. The WCO has addressed the software needs of its Members by organising ICT conferences in the recent years. Following these events, the WCO has decided to host the First Technology and Innovation Forum, which will be dedicated to inspection technologies and follow the format of the ICT event.  The major objectives of the Forum are:

• Identify and analyse the emerging threats and challenges to the customs environment in the sphere of border protection;
• Demonstrate tangible technological and innovative solutions to the Customs Administrations in order to tackle new threats;
• Provide a platform for future dialogue and cooperation between the public and private sector in the sphere of border management;
• Offer technological solutions to assist daily border inspection activities;
• Forge new partnerships and encourage the exchange of best practices in the sphere of using technologies and innovations between Members.

GAINDE 2000 has been moderator of session on “Tax stamps and Document security.

The senegalese Customs Administration has, for the last decade, resolutely followed an economic mission by developing a capacity of monitoring and assistance to enterprises. The first symposium staged in 2007 enabled the different stakeholders to identify the hitches encountered by the private sector in its relations with customs and to propose solutions at stepping up corporate competitiveness.  The 2^nd symposium was held on 5-6^th November 2009 at the Meridien President Hotel in Dakar on the theme: “Customs-Private Sector Partnership: towards granting personalised privileges to enterprises.”  The opening ceremony was presided over by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in the presence of the Director General of Senegalese Customs, his French counterpart, senior representatives of Malian customs, the private sector and the employers’ association. GAINDE 2000 sponsored this event as part of its paperless trade project, the expected results of which are:

• Improving the cross border trade environment;
• Contributing to the creation of world class business environment to boost competitiveness and the national economy;
• Promoting exportations; 
• Stepping  up enterprises’ competitiveness;
• Promoting the Senegalese experience in the sub region;
• Ensuring interoperability between the Senegalese systems and platforms operated at regional and international level;
• Stepping  up the effectiveness of regional and international trade;
• ...

This 2^nd symposium marks a new stage in the partnership process linking the Senegalese customs and the private sector and heavily recommended the granting of personalised privileges likely to help meet the expectations and concerns of each enterprise. The closing ceremony was chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Senegalese Ministry of Budget.

GAINDE 2000 has bagged the prize for “Best transfer and e-payment Company” in the WAEMU space. The prize was handed over during the WAEMU show on New Technologies held at the International Conference Centre of Bamako last 21-23^rd October 2009.  WAEMU NET.COM seeks to gather in one platform the most diversified and most comprehensive ICT offer and propose to development stakeholders an exhaustive range of services, solutions and expertise, as well as the keys to decipher a sector in constant evolution. After Niamey (Niger) and Bamako (Mali), the third edition will be held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

As part of the paperless project, a team of GAINDE 2000 took part to the IP Communication Equipment and Applications Show dubbed IP Convergence, held on 6-8^th October 2009 in the French capital. This participation was aimed at canvassing partners for the implementation of a Data Center, a PKI authentication system and tools for the electronic signing of shared documents.

Through conferences, demo sessions and presentations, several solutions have been identified for the management of security, network and applications, but also in terms of Telecom facilities, large-scale archiving of data, authentication and electronic signature.

Every six months, UN/CEFACT experts grouped in 19 work groups convene to discuss standards in various sectors of activity, exchange ideas, share experiences, work on projects and collect information on all the works done under CEFACT. It was in this framework that the Convention Center of Sapporo, Japan hosted the 15^th UN/CEFACT Forum from 28^th September to 2^nd October 2009.GAINDE 2000, as a member of TGB2 (International Trade & Business Process Group) working on digital documents (UNeDocs), seized the occasion to exchange with various work groups including TGB3, TGB15, but also with partners in the ongoing paperless project (SITPRO, DagangNet). GAINDE 2000 also ran the “Lunch and Learn” session during the National Day on the theme “African e-Commerce Initiatives”. The African Alliance for e-Commerce, the Regional Single Window concept within the WAEMU space, the paperless trade project in Senegal are among other issues to be quoted in this domain.

The Dakar Port Authority invited GAINDE 2000 at the International Symposium on Maritime  Transports and Maritime Economy in West and Central African countries held on 26-30th September in Cotonou, Benin on the theme: « Maritime policy of West and Central African Countries. »

Objectives of the symposium:

• General assessment of the maritime policies of West and Central African countries;
• Reflection on perennial solutions aimed at ensuring participation of countries of the sub region in maritime cargo transport;
• Identifying approaches for solutions likely to enable countries of the sub region to embark on the modernisation, stepped up effectiveness and security of their ports, but also to guarantee the preservation of marine resources and the security of maritime waters.

GAINDE 2000 unveiled Senegal’s experience based on information technologies as a tool for maritime transport facilitation through electronic single windows, hence the recommendations to the member states for the establishment of electronic single windows:

• Establishment of a legal framework in terms of automated data exchanges and electronic commerce;
• Assistance and monitoring by the West and Central African Maritime Organisation (AMAOC) of national e-business initiatives.

On the sidelines of the symposium, the Dakar Port Authority bagged the Maritime Investment Prize of the African Maritime Integration Show (SIMA – 1^st edition), which rewards the ports’ achievements during the last five years in upgrading port infrastructure. The Dakar Port has embarked on a process of facilitating port formalities and establishing electronic single windows that meet international standards.

Participants in the symposium expressed the wish for a bi-annual institutionalisation of the event.

The WAEMU Commission organised on 26-30^th September 2009 in Abidjan a regional workshop on Trade Facilitation and the Regional Single Window. The opening ceremony was chaired by the Cabinet Director of the Trade Minister of Ivory Coast, in the presence of the technical advisor representing the Commissioner in charge of the Department of Regional Market, Commerce, Competition and Cooperation, experts of national trade administrations, transports, customs, private sector representatives of WAEMU member States, WAEMU Commission and the Regional Consular Chamber. The workshop secured support from UNCTAD and ILEAP (International Lawyers and Economists Against Poverty).   

Workshop on trade facilitation

Trade facilitation has been defined as “the simplification, standardisation and harmonisation of procedures and the related flows of information necessary to the movement of goods from the seller to the buyer,” and the associated payment, the objective being to accelerate the movement, clearance and release of goods.

During the proceedings, experts laid emphasis on the following elements:

• State of progress in negotiations on trade facilitation;
• Method of self-assessment of needs and technical assistance (UNCTAD);
• Countries’ experience in trade facilitation (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali);
• Examination of WTO members’ proposals (UNCTAD);
• Community gains in terms of trade facilitation.

Regional Single Window

The Regional Single Window concept can be defined as a platform federating national single windows of a given region with the view to facilitating cross border and international transactions, but also to mutualising resources and skills. The WAEMU Commission initiated in 2006, with the support of ILEAP, a study aimed at laying the bases for a reflection on the establishment of a Regional Single Window.  This study made it possible to take stock of the situation of existing single windows in Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Niger.  The study was re-examined during a training workshop on trade facilitation staged by the WAEMU Commission in May 2008 in Lome, Togo, and which culminated in the recommendation to undertake a reflection on ways to set up a Regional Single Window with the view to easing the circulation of goods and facilitating trade.  During this session, Senegal and Ivory Coast shared their single window experiences with other participants. The establishment of the Regional Single Window could be done in two phases:   

• Regional pilot project between Senegal and Ivory Coast;
• Rollout of an upgrade program to enable the other countries to set up their national SW.

GAINDE 2000 has been nominated at the UEMOANET.Com Awards in the category “Best Electronic Payment and Transfer Enterprise.” UEMOANET.Com seeks to gather in the same platform the most diversified and the most comprehensive ICT offer and to propose to development stakeholders a broad range of services, solutions and expertise, as well as appropriate keys to better comprehend this ever-evolving sector.Among other actions, it participates in:

• Creating a framework of promotion and exchange for IT companies;
• Outlining the excellence in the design and implementation of ICT-based solutions;
• Developing companies’ expertise;
• Optimizing the client service portfolio and consolidating exhibitors’ brand image;
• Presenting offers, the new approaches and practices under way;
• Fostering synergy among the different stakeholders by strengthening regional cooperation in ICT.

The award ceremony is scheduled during the WAEMU ICT Show slated for 21-23^rd October 2009 in the Malian capital.  

The paperless trade project was launched on 4-5^th July 2009 at Hotel Les Bougainvillées in Saly, 80 km south of Dakar.

Meant to help automate and dematerialize the entire trade chain in Senegal, the Project will, at a later stage, disseminate the Senegalese experience in the West African region, with the view to sensitizing all stakeholders on the benefits of electronic trade for the business circles in terms of the reduction of the processing time and costs. Advantages of the paperless concept also include the improvement of productivity and competitiveness.

The expected results is to stimulate the appropriation of the concept by West African countries and their commitment to developing e-business through electronic Single Windows, ensure interoperability of their systems with platforms operated at the regional and international level, and step up the effectiveness of regional and international trade.

On this occasion, GAINDE 2000 staged a residential seminar grouping all stakeholders involved in trade and partners:

1. Users of the ORBUS System: importers, exporters, clearing agents;
2. Customs and stakeholders of the clearing chain;
3. E-payment stakeholders: Treasury, Banks, Central Bank (BCEAO) and users;
4. Port stakeholders: CAP Dakar (Community of Port Stakeholders), shipping agents, handling services, transporters, logistics actors;
5. Dakar Port Authority;
6. Trade facilitation partners: APIX, CPI, CSV 24/24, ASEPEX, BCEAO, COSEC, ADIE ;
7. Private sector: USETTA, CNP, CNES, MDES, UNACOIS, CCIAD, SATS ;
8. Quality control bodies: DITP, DPV, DSV, DEF, DCQ, DM ;
9. International partners: TNL (UK), CFAO (France), CONEX (France), France E-Commerce (France) ;
10. Work groups of the Phase I dealing with Finance, Insurance, Certificates of Origin, Quality Control and Standards, COTECNA/Customs/Users.

Below were the targeted objectives:

· Sensitize the parties on the stakes of the Project Phase II;

· Define the optimal processes at reaching paperless trade through the analysis of the following issues:

1. Pre clearance;

2. Clearance;

3. Goods release operations;

4. Non customs inspections.

Result:

• Project objectives and stakes shared out among participants;
• Project scope defined;
• Realization-related constraints and risks identified;
• Stakeholders’ needs and constraints identified;
• Roadmap for the execution of the project objectives drafted.

For the record, GAINDE 2000 has secured support from the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) to carry out this ambitious project.

As part of its technical assistance program, the World Trade Organization (WTO) staged on 15-19^th June 2009, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, a workshop on Senegal’s self-assessment of its needs and priorities in terms of trade facilitation.

Under the Doha cycle, WTO members hold negotiations with the view to reaching an agreement on trade facilitation: harmonization and simplification of national administrative procedures in international trade. In this regard, WTO has pledged, in its technical assistance program, to back developing countries, Senegal in particular, to stage a workshop in a bid to enable the parties of the private and public sectors to:

• have an overview of the needs assessment process and the self-assessment guide drafted by the World Bank in cooperation with WTO Secretariat and other organizations;
• exchange with facilitators on the content of the proposed measures relative to the three articles of the GATT 1994 underlying negotiations on trade facilitations: publishing and administration of trade-related rules, charges and formalities, transit liberty…

As a key trade facilitation actor, GAINDE 2000 took part in this workshop, during which it presented its project for the automation of foreign trade procedures due to kick off in July 2009. As part of this project, GAINDE 2000 envisages to create an automated platform integrating:

• pre clearance process facilitating an interoperability with international platforms;
• clearance process covering an interconnection between ORBUS and GAINDE (customs system);
• goods release procedures that consist in the extension of the system to port logistic services.

At stake, the automation project, which fits into the framework of negotiations on trade facilitation, is aimed at reducing import formalities from 18 to 9 days, to align with performances in developed countries.

To develop the contacts set with delegations from Central Asia (visit to Dakar in February 2008, participation in the International Conference on Single Windows in Dakar in November 2008, WCO Conference in Marrakech, Morocco in April 2009), a delegation of GAINDE 2000 senior officials was on Central Asian tour from 25^th May to 10^th June 2008, visiting Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan and Tajikistan, with the main objectives being:

• To participate in the conference on Single Window awareness in Astana;
• To define and step up partnership frameworks;
• To promote GAINDE 2000 solutions.

The German Cooperation Agency (GTZ) staged on 28^th May in Astana (Kazakhstan) a regional conference to sensitize local actors on the stakes of the Single Window concept. The Conference gathered local stakeholders (clearing agents and traders), associations of computer service providers, and customs officers from Kyrgyzstan. The meeting was chaired by the representative of Astana Chamber of Commerce and gave GAINDE 2000 officials the opportunity to unveil our experience in terms of Single Window implementation.

Through the GTZ representation in Astana, GAINDE 2000 officials held talks with customs officials from Kazakhstan. During the meeting, they described the GAINDE 2000 approach, the level of stakeholders’ involvement (traders, governmental departments), as well as the basic principles of the technical solution. The customs officials focused on the solution implementation costs and the public/private partnership model on which the Senegalese Single Window has been built.  The accent was also laid on the different implementation steps leading to paperless trade.GAINDE 2000 then announced the forthcoming launch of a new phase of its trade automation project, with the view to transforming commercial exchanges in Senegal into a “Zero Paper” model, addressing the entire trade chain, with the logistics, port and inspection services included.

In Tajikistan, a meeting was organized with the GTZ branch on the implementation of Single Window and Customs Automation systems.

Students preparing for their Masters’ in Networks and Telecommunications were on a visit to GAINDE 2000 on 20^th May 2009. This plant visit enables the student to have an immersion in the professional environment. Accompanied by their teacher in computer sciences, the students came to take cognizance of the tools used in the Solutions and Development Department, as well as the methodology sustaining the development of a solution.

GAINDE 2000 regularly offers probation to students preparing for their end-studies dissertation.

Every year the Computer Sciences Section of the Mathematics-Computer Department of the Sciences and Technologies Faculty of Cheikh Anta Diop University organizes an open house. This event is aimed at:

• Showing and promoting it?s areas of skills in the professional circle;
• Unveiling the students? expertise;
• Reaching partnership agreements with enterprises;
• Offering services to all the faculties of the university.

GAINDE 2000 sponsored this event and shared with the students its experience in electronic data processing during the graduation ceremony of the students in Master?s, majoring in Networks-Telecom and information systems. The ceremony was presided over by the Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training.

The Councils of Governors of the African Development Bank and the African Development Forum of the ADB Group held their Annual Assemblies on 13-14^th May at the Meridien President Hotel in Dakar. The Senegalese Head of State presided over the opening ceremony in the presence of his counterpart of Burkina Faso, the Vice president of Ghana, the Chairman of the African Union Commission, the President of the African Development Bank and the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Some technical meetings took place on 11-12^th May ahead of the assemblies. For four days, a series of ministerial roundtable discussions were staged on the theme “Africa and the global financial crisis: a plan of action”, along with seminars on the financial crisis and fragile states, regional integration and trade, the financial crisis and economic reforms …

On the sidelines of the Annual Assemblies, an exhibition titled “Senegal en devenir” (Senegal in the move) was organized in the gardens of the Meridien President Hotel to present the various opportunities of Senegal in the economic field. GAINDE 2000 took part in this event to unveil its role in cross-border trade reform.

The modernisation of customs operations processing tools is a major concern of the Senegalese customs administration. In line with this dynamic, GAINDE 2000 has secured support from the Investment Climate Facility (ICF) to roll out a project for the complete automation of foreign trade procedures.

To ensure the proper management of the project, the Customs Commissioner General set up on 7^th May 2009 the Steering Committee, which is the body empowered to validate project-related decisions and monitor the milestones thereof. The Steering Committee convenes on the first Thursday of every month. 

Following are the main Steering Committee members:

• Customs Commissioner General who assures the co chairmanship;
• The Managing Director of the Dakar Port Authority  who assures the co chairmanship;
• The Chairman of the Community of Port Stakeholders who assures the vice chairmanship;
• GAINDE 2000 Managing Director as Project Director;
• The Permanent Technical Committee of GAINDE 2000 ;
• The Chairman of USETTA (Senegalese Union of Clearing and Transport Agencies) ;
• The Chairman of SATS (Union of Senegalese Facilitating Agencies) ;
• The Chairman of CNP (National Council of Employers) ;
• The Chairman of CNES (National Confederation of Employers) ;
• The Chairman of MDES (Association of Senegalese Enterprises) ;
• The National Union of Chambers of Commerce;
• The Managing Director of COSEC (Senegalese Council of Shipping Agents) ;
• UNACOIS JAPPOO (National Union of Traders and Industrialists of Senegal) ;
• The stakeholders involved in Phase I of the project (Foreign Trade Department,  Department of Maritime Fisheries, Phytosanitary Division, Quality Control Department, Monetary and Credit Department, Metrology Department, Banks, COTECNA, Department of Veterinarian Services, Forestry Department, Insurance Companies )

In 2008, GAINDE 2000 secured assistance from the Investment Climate Facility (ICF) to improve and step up the operation of the ORBUS Single Window. As part of the sensitizing drive of this project, a national tour was staged in April 2009 to the regional Chambers of Commerce in a bid to:

• Sensitize traders;
• Exchange with trade stakeholders;
• Position ORBUS nationwide;
• Revive partnership with regional Chambers of Commerce for the distribution of the electronic pre-clearance document collection service at local level.

Tour schedule:

Stage 1: Thies (09-04-06), Louga (09-04-07)

Stage 2: Diourbel (09-04-14), Kaolack (09-04-15), Saint Louis (09-04-15), Fatick (09-04-16)

Stage 3: Ziguinchor (09-04-21), Kolda (09-04-22)

For the 7th consecutive year, GAINDE 2000 has participated in the WCO IT Conference Exhibition, which was held in Morocco on the landmark theme : « Single Window : advantages for traders. » In fact, WCO has issued instructions intended for the developers of Single Window environment. Likewise, the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) has, to this end, drafted the Recommendation 33 that is an important tool in this domain.

The Conference co-staged with the Moroccan Customs Administration was held at the Palmeraie Golf Palace in Marrakech from 22nd to 24th April 2009.

THE CONFERENCE

It is about an international event gathering over 30 renowned experts bringing information and sharing viewpoints on the vital role that Information Technologies play by interconnecting all stakeholders at the borders for more effective procedures.

Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance opened the Conference in the presence of WCO Secretary General and over 500 customs and private sector experts. In his speech, the Minister argued that “customs have a great responsibility in economic development, which is critical in the current context of the global financial crisis affecting the entire world and particularly the trade sector (…). The use of IT is crucial to facilitate trade and fight against cross-border crime.” The Minister then thanked WCO for its leading role in the debates on customs reforms and urged the private sector to be more active in this domain.

For three days, the debates touched, through interactive sessions, on the Single Window concept, the role and merger of technologies in data exchanges, the role of public/private partnership, case studies ...

THE EXHIBITION

The exhibition staged on the sidelines of the WCO Conference has hitherto recorded a recurrent success. The event actually gathers suppliers of IT solutions and representatives of customs administrations from around the world. Some 34 exhibitors took part in the show, and visitors of the GAINDE 2000 stand included embers of the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce (AAEC). In fact, the AAEC Executive Committee took the occasion to convene its 1st meeting ahead of the Conference, as the Single Window theme directly concerns the newly created Alliance. The meeting took place on 21st April 2009 in Marrakech.

The Executive Committee of the African Alliance for Electronic Commerce (AAEC) held its first meeting on 21st April 2009 at the Palmeraie Gold Palace Hotel in Marrakech, Morocco, on the sidelines of the IT Conference-Exhibition of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) on the theme: « Single Windows : advantages for traders .» AAEC Executive members took this occasion to convene, in light of the paramount importance of the conference theme. The Executive Committee meeting was organised by the National Foreign Trade Council of Morocco. At the end of the proceedings, the AAEC board took the option to hold bi-annual meetings of the Executive Committee.

After organising the 13th edition in Saly, Senegal, GAINDE 2000 took part in the 14th edition of the UN/CEFACT Forum held in Rome, Italy.

Every six months, CEFACT experts, gathered in 19 work groups, meet to discuss ways to establish standards in various sectors of activity, exchange ideas, share experiences, work on projects and collect information on all the works done under UN/CEFACT.

The GAINDE 2000 delegation seized the occasion to exchange with members of the TBG2 work group and partners of ICF Phase II.

During the National Day staged on 22^nd April 2009, GAINDE 2000 IT Specialist,  Mohamed DIOUF made a presentation entitled “Paperless trade, prospects for Africa.” The theme of the National Day was: “Role of trade facilitation - Promoting Market Integration - Focus on Africa.”

http://www.uncefactrome.ice.gov.it/conference.html

Ahead of the launching of the trade automation project, GAINDE 2000 organised a seminar at “Les Bougainvilliers” Hotel in Saly from 10th to 12th April 2009. This seminar provided the occasion for discussions among all stakeholders involved in the ICF Project Phase 2 on the key objectives that are:

1. Interoperability;
2. Integration of the applications GAINDE/ORBUS/CORUS;
3. Integration of logistic services.

These objectives fit into the framework of global exchanges and the facilitation and standardisation of customs procedures with the view to reducing the import/export processing time by integrating all stakeholders concerned. Two workshops were held to ponder over the set objectives, each of them reflecting on proposals and suggestions on the following themes:

The position of Africa’s top reformer for the "Cross-border trade" indicator in the Doing Business Report 2009 has been obtained thanks to the combined efforts of port stakeholders, public administrative bodies and the private stakeholders concerned.

These results must egg all the stakeholders concerned on to mobilise themselves to step up and consolidate the gains, and further the « Cross-border trade » indicator.

To this end, a seminar of port stakeholders was held on 8th April, around the following objectives:

• Sensitize the public and private stakeholders on the importance of the Doing Business, and shed light on its methodology with the view to stepping up the country’s performances as to the “Cross-border trade” indicator for the upcoming ranking of the Doing Business Report;
• Validate or amend the proposals of the TOP TEN AFRICA 2010 action plan for the “Cross-border trade” indicator;
• Assess the progress realised for each proposal of the action plan and set the next stages successively : (i) by May 2009 ; (ii) for Doing Business 2011 ;
• Set the responsibilities of each structure;
• Establish a dynamic of continuous improvement of the « Cross-border trade » environment.

Senegal, United Kingdom and Malaysia have signed in Dakar, on the occasion of the International Conference on Single Windows (November 2008) a Memorandum of Understanding on cross-border paperless trade. The three countries were represented by GAINDE 2000, SITPRO & TNL and DagangNet respectively.

GAINDE 2000 has held a meeting with its partners ahead of the implementation of a paperless trade project between Africa, Europe and Asia through electronic exchanges of documents required in cross-border trade.

This meeting provided the opportunity to:

• define the scope of the project(choice of the documents to exchange …);
• agree on a technology for the electronic exchange of data;
• prepare the launching seminar scheduled in Dakar in May 2009;
• ...

As part of the project of improving ORBUS performances, being rolled out by GAINDE 2000 with the support of the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF), a seminar of exchanges and information was staged on March 24th 2009 at the Savana Hotel in Dakar, with users and stakeholders of the Quality Control sector attending: Department of Veterinarian Services (DSV), Consumer Safety Department (DCSC), Forestry Department (DEF), Phytosanitary Service (DPV). The seminar sought to:

• Gather all stakeholders of the Quality Control sector;
• Assess the activities carried out in pursuance of the action plan of the project launching seminar (Saly – May 2008);
• Officially launch the integration of DCSC, DSV and DEF in the ORBUS network;
• Facilitate a better use of the application for the collection of documents;
• Identify ways to improve the quality of ORBUS services for a proper command of the controls and analyses of imported and exported goods.

In line with the process of stepping up the performances of ORBUS by 20% and widening its scope of services (new stakeholders or new services) with the support of the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF), GAINDE 2000 staged on March 19th 2009 a sectoral workshop with insurance companies at the Pullman Hotel in Dakar (ex-Teranga). The workshop gathered all stakeholders of the insurance sector: representatives of insurance companies, brokers, clearing agents and industrialists. Among other objectives, the workshop was aimed at:

• Gathering all the players of the insurance sector;
• Assessing the activities carried out in pursuance of the action plan of the project launching seminar (Saly – May 2008);
• Inciting users to appropriate insurance-related services in ORBUS;
• Defining a roadmap for the integration of all insurance companies in the ORBUS network.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Climate Facility in Africa (ICF) held a press conference on 18th March 2009 at GAINDE 2000, at the end of a visit by the ICF Board of trustees.

During the exchanges with the press, Omari ISSA laid emphasis on:

• The role of his institution in Africa ;
• The great strides made by the project initiated with GAINDE 2000 as part of the upgrade of Senegal’s electronic Single Window and which has yielded among other results: the improvement of ORBUS processes and the acquisition of new hardware and software; the rise in the number of users and public and private stakeholders; a reduction by 20 percent of ORBUS processing time, going from 2 days to 7 hours;
• The launching of Phase II of the “Outsourcing Project” aimed at the reduction of costs and time of trade transactions, with the main stakeholders including the Port, Customs and GAINDE 2000.

The « Outsourcing Project » seeks to contribute to the dissemination of the Senegalese experience in the West African sub-region, with the view to sensitising stakeholders on the gains of e-business for the business community in terms of reduction of costs and time, but also in terms of productivity and competitiveness. The expected result is to stimulate the appropriation of the Single Window concept by West African countries and their commitment to develop e-business through the establishment of Single Windows, assure interoperability of the systems with platforms operated at the regional and international level, and step up the effectiveness of regional and international trade.

Set up in 2006 to help streamline the investment climate with the view to fostering economic growth in Africa, ICF collaborates with African governments to promote an environment conducive for prosperous business on the continent, by systematically focussing on domains in which some practical measures can be undertaken to eliminate the identified constraints and problems. ICF brings its contribution to the efforts at removing the obstacles impeding the development of business in Africa, with a stress on the paramount importance of a sound investment climate for Africa’s economic growth.

The African Alliance for Electronic Business was officially set up on 13th March 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the sidelines of a workshop on trade facilitation, with the acting Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) attending.

The idea to create an African Alliance for e-Business fashioned after the one existing in the Asian region (Pan-Asian Alliance for E-Commerce) was addressed for the first time in November 2008 in Dakar during the International Conference on Single Windows. A group of countries had volunteered to develop the reflection and prepare the constituent General Assembly.

During the Dakar confab, UNECA announced, through the African Trade Policies Centre (ATPC), its willingness to host the African Alliance’s constituent General Assembly in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of a workshop on trade facilitation slated for March 2009.

The constituent General Assembly took place as scheduled and has elected members of an Executive Committee chaired by Senegal in the person of Ibrahima Nour Eddine DIAGNE, Managing Director of GAINDE 2000. The Executive Committee also comprises representatives of Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Morocco, Libya and Congo. The other founding members are Madagascar, Gabon and Togo.

The Alliance mainly seeks to step up and promote trade-related Single Windows in Africa. It is endowed with the following three (3) technical commissions:

• Commission in charge of organisation and promotion ;
• Technology and Standards Commission ;
• Projects Commission.

The first meeting of the Executive Commission is scheduled for April 2009 in Marrakech, at the invitation of the King of Morocco. The meeting will be held on the sidelines of the International Conference of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) on Information Technologies that will, this year, touch on Single Windows.

On the sidelines of the CEFACT Forum held in Saly from 10th to 14th of November 2008, a National Day was staged in Dakar and gathered UNCEFACT experts and Senegalese businessmen around projects and achievements as part of CEFACT activities. The Forum staged by GAINDE 2000 on 12th November at Meridien President Hotel touched on the theme: “Can e-business develop in Senegal?” When opening the ceremony, Abdou Aziz SOW, Senegalese Minister of Information, Telecommunications, ICTs, NEPAD, Relations with Institutions and Spokes of the Government stressed the need to connect SMEs to Internet, but mainly to efficiently and productively integrate information technologies and e-business in trade practices.

The presentations of international experts cast light on the major e-business trends worldwide and laid emphasis on the importance to use standards and norms to this end. In this respect, the importance of Africa’s increased participation in UNCEFACT works was reaffirmed, with Senegal being one of the few members from the continent.

Local experts took stock of the e-business situation in Senegal, while some concrete applications for customs, port, e-payment and tourism transactions were presented by the main stakeholders in the sectors concerned, such as GAINDE 2000, the Dakar Port Authority, PAYBOX Africa, AMADEUS and CTMI-UEMOA.

The National Day provided the opportunity to measure the work yet to be done towards making e-business a reality in Senegal.

From 10th to 14th of November 2008, GAINDE 2000 hosted at Lamantin Beach Hotel in Saly (80 km south of Dakar) the 13th forum of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UNCEFACT). This Forum is held every 6 months and gathers experts divided in 19 work groups and discussing standards in various sectors of activities, exchanging ideas, sharing experiences and updates on CEFACT achievements.

The Forum, whose opening ceremony was chaired by the Secretary General of the Senegalese Ministry of Economy and Finance, was enhanced by several Senegalese personalities including Armand Jean- Jacques NANGA, Director General of Customs and Bara SADY, Managing Director of the Dakar Port Authority, who commended the holding of such a landmark event in Senegal. For his part, the chairman of the Forum Management Group (FMG), Mike DORAN hailed the great strides made by Senegal, currently viewed as a reference country in terms of electronic trade facilitation.

Some 110 international delegates took part in the Forum, the first edition hosted in Africa, aimed at facilitating global transactions. Organised in workshops, the pundits delved for 5 days into issues relative to the formalisation of standards in international trade.

Senegal has, since 2006, been assuming the mandate of UNCEFACT Rapporteur for Africa, through GAINDE 2000 General Manager Ibrahima Nour Eddine DIAGNE. In this respect, efforts are being made towards inciting all African countries to adopt the same standards for smoother trade operations and a more competitive African market.

The Forum ended in the morning of 14th November.

www.unece.org/cefact

Dakar hosted on 5-7th November 2008 the first edition of the International Conference on Single Windows. The event was staged by the Government of Senegal through the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Customs Administration, and practically organised by GAINDE 2000. Some 159 participants hailing from 33 countries took part in the proceedings, during which 30 speakers shared their single window experience through their presentations on the concept and shed light on the current experiences in the matter worldwide. Thus, participants lengthily discussed the concept and its implications in foreign trade. Among other objectives, the conference was aimed at:

• Developing the interest of African governments and private sector in the Single Window concept, a framework to facilitate trade formalities, with the view to justifying its implementation to promote regional and inter-regional cooperation;
• Promoting Public-Private Partnership in the establishment of Single Windows;
• Streamlining procedures through the implementation of Single Windows;
• …

The Conference was held in two phases:

AFRICAN FORUM ON SINGLE WINDOWS: 5th November

The African forum on Single Windows, the first such event, enabled participants to reflect on the following themes:

• Trade facilitation and ICT;
• Single Window initiatives in Africa;
• Single Windows implementation stages;
• Project to establish a Pan-African Alliance for E-business.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SINGLE WINDOWS: 6-7th November 2008

The following themes were on the agenda of this first edition:

• Single Window Concept;
• WTO negotiations on trade facilitation;
• Standards and interoperability;
• Regional cooperation projects (ASEAN, ASEAL, …).

Supported by the main international organisations involved in trade development such as the World Bank, UNCTAD, SFI, UNECE, UNECA, WCO and AFACT, the conference was a successful event. The Senegalese Trade Minister closed the 3-day proceedings.

www.conferencesw.org

Senegal, United Kingdom and Malaysia have signed in Dakar on the first day of the International Conference on Single Windows (5th November) a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cross-border paperless trade. The three countries were respectively represented by GAINDE 2000, SITPRO & T.N.L., DagangNet.

Under this MOU, the three countries are expected to work on:

• The secured transmission of trade and customs-related documents;
• The interconnection of networks to provide services to the chain of stakeholders through automated applications;
• The transfer of knowledge and technology among parties through a pilot phase;
• …

Through this cooperation, the three countries seek to promote the establishment of paperless trade between Africa, Europe and Asia via electronic exchanges of documents required in cross-border trade.

The first edition of the International Conference on Single Windows held in Dakar on 5-7th November 2008 was kicked off by the African Forum on e-business.

During this Forum, participants concerned examined the opportunity to set up a Pan-African Alliance for e-Business fashioned after its counterpart in Asia - Asian Alliance for e-Business (PAA) ? on two occasions:

• The dinner of the African group to discuss the modalities of setting up the Pan-African Alliance;
• The meeting of the Action Committee to set up the Task Force in charge of steering the Alliance?s creation process.

The dinner provided the opportunity to unveil the concept paper and identify countries due to form the Action Committee on the Alliance establishment project.

The initiative to set up the Pan-African Alliance for e-Business was hailed by all the participants who stressed the need to gather the maximum of participants including countries currently implementing Single Windows.

The project for the electronic payment of customs dues and taxes has reached its experimental phase with the signing of conventions among different stakeholders. Proceedings of the technical committee had culminated in a contractual framework that eventually led to the drafting of the conventions. The signing ceremony, gathering various stakeholders - the Public Accounting and Treasury Department, banks and GAINDE 2000 – took place on 18 April 2008 at the Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture of Dakar (CCIAD), with the Head of the Senegalese customs administration attending. The signing of the conventions marks the beginning of the pilot phase of the electronic payment platform dubbed CORUS.