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Borderless Alliance: a Crash Course,

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

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Current Situation in West Africa

Reality on the ground contradicts pledges of

improvement and hinders efforts in the sub region:

1. Public sector is stagnant (Status Quo)

2. Private sector is fragmented (Cannot ignite change)

3. Consumer is frustrated (Very high cost of goods)

4. Trader/Producer is uncompetitive (High cost of doing

business)

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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

4 West African producers struggle to compete internationally

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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 !

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Value Invested

by Consumer

Value Received

at Point of Sale

Value Leakage

Barriers to trade:

- Business Env.

- Import Procedure

- Checkpoints

- Borders

- Profit Margins

Everybody is a Consumer

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

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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

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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

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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?

UNIFIED VOICE OF

PRIVATE SECTOR

REPRESENTATION

STRENGTH

IN

NUMBERS

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 region-wide

2. Next Step: Forging Strategic Partnership

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

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Conference Objective

1. General meeting of alliance members

2. Consenting to support advocacy agenda

3. Elect the alliance’s executive committee

4. Participate in membership drive

5. Obtaining support from regional authorities

6. Launch the Borderless Alliance

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Join us in Our Campaign!!

We believe that positive, permanent change is possible

We believe that we can achieve a borderless West Africa