Heads of African maritime administration from 34 maritime nations in African have identified the need for member countries to adopt simple trade documentation procedures at the seaports to fast track cargo clearance and enhance timely delivery of cargo to importers’ warehouse.
This resolution was on the backdrop of worries expressed by delegates at the third Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) annual conference in Abuja last week, that a good number of African countries do not pay attention to adopting procedures that facilitate trade in their seaports.
For Africa to achieve inclusive participation in global trade, countries must have the political will to facilitate trade in all their cargo entry and exit points, said the AAMA communiqué, which has the record of decisions, recommendations and resolutions at the conference.
“Apart from the adoption of transparency in port operations, countries need to also introduce simple trade documentation procedures; eliminate or reduce red-tapes including bureaucratic bottleneck that hinders fast clearing and delivery of cargo to the importers warehouse,” the communiqué further stated.
