AfCFTA, firm seal 20-year Customs modernisation deal
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited have partnered on the execution of a concession agreement running for 20-years on the Customs...
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited have partnered on the execution of a concession agreement running for 20-years on the Customs Modernisation Project.
AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, said the signing of the agreement will move customs all over Africa to a state of advanced technological development. It will simplify and drive trade with the Bergman Security Consultants and Supplies Limited executing the concession agreement through its subsidiary, AfriTrade CMP Limited.
The Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultant and Supplies Limited, Saleh Ahmadu who spoke at the signing of the 20-year deal in Abuja, said that the agreement is a significant step towards greater levels of inter-African trade and building momentum for implementing the AfCFTA agreement.
Ahmadu said: “Bergman Security Consultants and Supplies Limited is honoured to execute this landmark concession agreement through its subsidiary, AfriTrade CMP Limited.
The agreement is a significant step towards greater levels of inter-African trade and the building of momentum for implementing the AFTA agreement.
“To achieve this, Bergman’s role is to provide the required financing and technical expertise in collaboration with stakeholders around the world. We understand what is at stake and remain focused on working with the AFCFTA Secretariat and custom administrations across the African continent. This will be through viable solutions that enhance trade facilitation, open up new investment opportunities and build African capacity for sustainable growth.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to secure efficient and scalable trade infrastructure across the country. We commend the AfCFTA Secretariat for alignment on this vision to advance Africa’s economic integration and agenda. The AfCFTA Custom Modernisation Project underscores the strategic importance of custom modernization backed by innovation and state-of-the-art technology.”
Mene said the signing of the concession is the signature of his belief as a transformative tool for customs modernization in the African continent.
He said: “I had earlier heard what Bergman Security did for Nigeria, the modernisation achievements, the digitisation that happened, the investment in enabling Nigeria to be one of the leading countries in terms of customs systems modernisation and I said why can this not be done for other African countries.
“We have a singular ambition, and that is to position customs systems in Africa to digitalization, to be at the service of Africa’s economy, and to make sure that there is transparency, accountability, and that customs systems contribute to Africa’s overall economic growth, let it happen in other African countries as it has happened in Nigeria, even though the Nigerian project began few years ago”.
The Secretary General commended the Federal Government for being one of the leading modernisation champions for customs. “We specifically chose Bergmans Security Consultant because it is an African company that is able to deploy digital technology for the advancement of our continent. We are committed to replicating the globally celebrated success we have achieved in Nigeria across the continent. We look forward to the seamless and successful implementation of this project to the benefit of all Africans,” the AfCFTA scribe said.
