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Borderless Alliance: a Crash Course,

by: Ziad Hamoui, Interim President, Borderless Alliance 16-May-2012, Golf Hotel, Abidjan

Current Situation in West Africa


Reality on the ground contradicts pledges of improvement and hinders efforts in the sub region:
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Public sector is stagnant Private sector is fragmented Consumer is frustrated Trader/Producer is uncompetitive business)

(Status Quo) (Cannot ignite change) (Very high cost of goods) (High cost of doing
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2.

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Consequences on Trade and Transport


High Costs; West African freight costs among highest in the world
Long delays; Ports, Borders, Inland Terminals, and Checkpoints Uncertainty in Time and Costs; Unpredictability discourage investment Corruption; Illegal stops, procedures, delays and costs are rampant

West African producers struggle to compete internationally

How do we achieve positive, permanent change ???


ADVOCACY can result in change The public and private sectors have to work together for CHANGE to happen ! Issues need to be addressed at the decision making level for CHANGE to happen !

Everybody is a Consumer
Value Invested by Consumer Barriers to trade: - Business Env. - Import Procedure - Checkpoints - Borders - Profit Margins

Value Received at Point of Sale Value Leakage


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BORDERLESS Campaign Launched March 2010 (Roadshows, Conferences, Reports, Caravans)

Previous Advocacy Successful Activities


(Based on recommendations from the Trade Hub cost-reduction studies on the Tema Ouagadougou corridor)

1. Meetings with CEPS commissioner , Parliamentary Transport Committee 2. Result: Elimination of the GORO boys at Paga border
1. Organized other meetings with GPHA, Private sector companies, banks... 2. RESULT: Awareness created for banking products promoting availability of CFA Francs in Ghana

Current Advocacy Projects


1. Establishment of the Border Information Center at Aflao (Ghana-Togo) 2. Result: Measurable reduction in cross-border delay time 1. Express/Expedited Lane 2. Opportunity: expedite clearance procedure and reduce delays

Challenges to Advocacy Campaign


Campaigning alone not enough to achieve permanent change Change takes time and effort Allocated resources are finite; sooner or later, backers/sponsors/donors might have to reduce or stop funding

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How to Overcome Challenges?


STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

UNIFIED VOICE OF PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATION

CLOUT OF ADVISORS

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Steps Completed So Far


1. Borderless Alliance registered as a non-profit organization 2. Temporary housing/funding provided by West Africa Trade Hub 3. Interim Executive Committee/Secretariat appointed 4. Internal Regulations & Code of Ethics drafted 5. First Transport Stakeholders Conference held in Accra on Nov.09, 2011; more than 50 participants

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Elements of Successful Advocacy


1. Credibility: real-time data provide verifiable proof 2. Visibility: perceiving obstacles at all levels of operations, on a regional level 3. Versatility: Problem-solving approach to barriers of trade and transport (troubleshooting) 4. Communication: Dialogue with stakeholders to the highest levels

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Benefits of Supporting our Advocacy


1. Member-Specific Benefits: a. Networking (Private and Public Stakeholders) b. Marketing (Branding, Corporate Image) c. Technical Assistance (Best Practice from Fellow Members) 2. Non Member-Specific Benefits: a. Reduced Delays (higher turnaround) b. Reduced Costs (formal and informal) 3. HIGH PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED FOR EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY!!
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The Way Ahead


1. Currently Seeking out Private sector involvement regionwide 2. Next Step: Forging Strategic Partnership

3. Reaching out to Relevant Authorities (ECOWAS, Governments, Regulatory bodies)

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Conference Objective
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

General meeting of alliance members Consenting to support advocacy agenda Elect the alliances executive committee Participate in membership drive Obtaining support from regional authorities Launch the Borderless Alliance
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We believe that positive, permanent change is possible

We believe that we can achieve a borderless West Africa

Join us in Our Campaign!!

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