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Cameroon: World Customs SG Prescribes Privatisation of Seaports
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The Post (Buea)
25 February 2008
Posted to the web 25 February 2008
Leocadia Bongben
The Secretary General of World Customs Organisation, Michel Danet, has recommended that seaports should be privatised for them to meet international standards and cope with the fast changes.
Danet, who was in Cameroon for a two-day visit, was responding to questions during a conference in Yaounde on February 22 on the challenges facing Customs at the international level and the response of the World Customs Organisation.
He said following the international norms, the shortest time possible is required to clear goods at ports. He added that seaports that cannot stand the competition would disappear. For seaports that have responded to international norms, he mentioned Accra and Dakar, adding that Ivory Coast is still staggering behind and Cameroon was not even mentioned.
Following the challenges of Customs administration and cooperation among members of the World Commerce and Organisations, WCO, Danet maintained that though trade barriers are being dismantled, there should be respect for the quality of products and government should prohibit the importation of certain goods. This, he said, depends on the missions of government.
He reiterated the need to reinforce capacities of Customs to serve the economy.
Danet expressed worry that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises SMEs, are badly represented and do not participate in negotiations so as to meet up with international demands and competition.
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He emphasised on the need to sensitise and affiliate SMEs though there may be reticence. The SG said a diagnostic of African Customs reveal a weakness in norms, which are generally low, compared to countries of the north.
Commenting of the essence of the visit, the Director of Customs, Minette Li Libom Likeng, said it was to encourage Cameroon in the reforms started towards modernisation of Custom administration, though the programme 'Columbus', and to appreciate the election of Antoine Marie Manga Massina, former Customs Director as Director of Tariff and Commercial Affair in Brussels.
She said efforts would be made to ensure transparent procedures and intensify the fight against fraud within the Customs sector.
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