CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF BENIN CCIB/SG/DAE/SCI/YR/pn Subject: Programme of work of the private sector in West Africa (Proposal of Benin) Reference Document : Declaration adopted in Cotonou by the Private Sector in West Africa, meeting in a Regional Workshop from 4 to 6 June 2007. Working Documents . - Cotonou Declaration - Conclusion of the Ministerial Committee on follow-up of negotiations (Accra Conclusion, 12 to 16 July 2007) - Conclusion of the Brussels Meeting - Reports of the thematic working groups Stakeholders - Follow-up and implementation Committee of the Cotonou Conclusions (Benin, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria) - All ECOWAS States + Mauritania - UEMOA Commission - ECOWAS Commission - OIF Background Representatives of ECOWAS member States and Mauritania met in Cotonou from 4 to 6 June 2007 in a Workshop on information and exchange of views for a more efficient participation of the private sector in the region in the negotiating process of the Economic Partnership Agreement between West Africa and the European Union.
At the end of this important Workshop during which participants examined the major economic and trade implications of the on-going negotiations between the ACP States and the European Union, as well as the international trade climate, several important recommendations were made. In order to ensure the implementation and follow-up of these recommendations, a working group comprising Benin, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria was set up. The group was to organize, in collaboration with the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions, a brainstorming session on the private sector in West Africa on the following thematic points, among others: - regional integration and trade liberalization; - improvement of competitiveness of the economy; - funding; - etc. Also examined were the context of EPA negotiation between West Africa and the European Union and the current level of the involvement of the private sector in the negotiating process, and recommends that the private sector should be permanently and effectively involved in order to ensure that these concerns are taken into account and useful measures put in place for the implementation of the Agreement. In order to give concrete expression to the recommendations of the Cotonou Workshop, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Benin proposes the following draft Working programme: Problem : Regional integration and trade liberalization Ref: Cotonou decl item 5 to 11 Objectives Activities Programming of Participants Cost activities/period of implementation 1 st . Stage: appointment Free movement of goods within Diagnosis of the implementation of ECOWAS/Strengthening of regional the ECOWAS Common External of a consultant for the integration. Ensure that customs and Tariff and its impact on the existence diagnosis administrative formalities at an entry point of enterprises. 2 nd . Stage: Regional in the Union allow for free movement in 2
all the other member States without any Current stage of harmonization of Workshop of the private [tariff and non tariff] problems and customs and administrative sector/public sector for [without other unessential and formalities and other forms of checks approval administrative formalities] and controls at at the borders and within the States. 3 rd Stage: Submission of the borders and inside the States. Consideration of the compensation conclusions to scheme applicable among the States ECOWAS and proposal for improvement Proposals to enhance the functioning of the system 1 st . Stage: the Free movement of goods within Diagnosis of progress in the ECOWAS/make operational the establishment of the second monetary Committee informs the establishment of the second monetary zone and identification of constraints. private sectors of all zone and the process leading to the single member States to list currency (in order to eliminate overheads Brainstorming on how to facilitate difficulties encountered and difficulties inherent in the diversity of financial transactions in the in financial transactions currencies in the ECOWAS Zone (F CFA, ECOWAS Zone cheaply and within in the zone. Naira, Cedi, Silly, Dallassi, Cape Verd) the shortest possible time. 2 nd Stage: Regional Brainstorming on how to promote Workshop of Banking intra-regional trade in West Africa institutions: through facilitation of financial -BCEAO transactions. - Non-CFA Central Banks Brainstorming on establishment of - Representatives of legal guarantees to safeguard BCEAO Associations of Banks credits for Banks for enterprises (to of Member States specify within the framework of - Representatives of the credits for enterprises). private sector (Import- Export, Industrialists, 3
Make recommendations to speed up Traders) the process and to propose an -ECOWAS-UEMOA indicative time frame, taking into representatives account the context of EPA. Submit conclusions to ECOWAS. 1 st Stage: Bring together Free movement of persons within Examine the various existing reports ECOWAS (observatories, project corridor, authorities responsible Community institutions, independent for transport in the bodies, States) region (police, customs, gendarmerie, Water and Identify the real existing obstacles Forest resources, transport unions). Propose measures to eliminate 2 nd Stage: Put together obstacles recommendations, approved by the private sector and forward conclusions and recommendations to ECOWAS. 3d Stage: Follow p on implementation. 1 st . Stage: Appoint a Regional integration and rate of List studies conducted on the needs of liberalization/Capacity building of capacity building of the private sector consultant to prepare stakeholders of the private sector. at the regional and national levels the programme (with emphasis on needs of capital 2 nd Stage: Place the interest). report of the consultant Summarize capacity building needs of at the disposal of the the private sector private sector. 4
3 rd Stage: Organize a Summarize recommendations and update them regional workshop to approve the conclusions Prepare a capacity building and recommendations. programme of the private sector 4 th Stage: Submit to within ECOWAS, to be submitted to regional and national authorities governments of the (FCC/WA). States and regional institutions (ECOWAS- Identify technical and financial UEMOA)for partners for implementation. implementation and follow-up’ Regional integration and rhythm of Bring together the private sector in liberalization/Trade facilitation West Africa to examine the Common Ref: Cotonou declaration, point 7 External Tariff System in relation to need to strengthen trade with the European Union and the need to protect existing industries and promote their commercial activities. Gather proposals to improve the system (ECOWAS CET)like the UEMOA CET) Organize a regional workshop for the CET Committee/ECOWAS-UEMOA, customs department and the private sector (Industry, Trade, Agriculture, Cottage industry) Regional integration and rhythm of List constraints and handicaps 5
1 st Stage liberalization/trade facilitation identified in the target sectors Ref: Cotonou declaration, points 8, 9 (energy, telecommunications, transport) and the business climate. List current recommended solutions Identify inadequacies 2 nd Stage Prepare a report to be studied by the follow-up Committee on Conclusions of the Cotonou workshop Study the report/make 3 rd Stage recommendations/follow up on implementation Regional integration and rhythm of To be guided by TDR of the study on liberalization/trade facilitation fiscal development in Benin to Ref: Cotonou declaration, point 12 propose activities. 6
Statement of problem : Improvement of competitiveness in West Africa Put in place a Community investment and Attention: comply with on-going competition framework to improve work in ECOWAS within the competitiveness in the region framework of EPA negotiations on Ref: Cotonou declaration, point 13 the area of investment and competition Effective implementation of the updating Ensure that the expert appointed to programme latest by the first semester of prepare the updating programme 2008 within ECOWAS has prepared a Ref: Cotonou declaration, points 6, 9, 14 project which integrates the general and specific needs of the private sector of States Take a national inventory of enterprises may be updated or restructured. In anticipation of a sub-regional workshop to examine the report of the Expert responsible for the preparation of the updating programme of ECOWAS, and under the responsibility of the Directorates of Industry of member States, the Follow-up Committee recommend that the private sector of each State [through the CCR/UEMOA ou the FCC/ECOWAS]should list 7
enterprises by sector and by branch of activity likely to be updated. 2 nd Stage Ensure that all ECOWAS States have produced the list and approved the various lists to ensure their assessment. Propose a consolidated list of enterprises at the level of ECOWAS Receive and study the report to be proposed by the expert and make improvements at a regional workshop. Measures to be taken : List obstacles to sale of products of enterprises on the (national, regional and international) markets with regard to standards, manufacturing processes, outlets, etc.) Find support programmes to eliminate the constraints Get interested also in the situation of distressed industrial enterprises that 3 rd Stage need rehabilitation [for several reasons, including particularly aspects relating to quality standards, costs, technology, etc.]by sector and by 8
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