Beninese residents abroad discussed by videoconference with the heads of financial authorities, including Benin Customs, on the reforms implemented to improve the business climate in Benin. It was Sunday, August 08, 2021. The meeting was moderated by Ilyass D. SINA, Technical Advisor for the monitoring of reforms and representing the Minister of State in charge of Economy and Finance, Charles SACCA BOKO, Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, Nicolas YENOUSSI Director General of Taxes, Gwendal Euzen Director General of Benin Control S.A and Fontaine Anicet Houngbo Director General of Webb

“Customs regime and customs clearance procedures: Reforms undertaken to improve the business climate in Benin”, it was around this theme that the exchange session between the customs administration and Beninese people abroad took place. During these exchanges, the panelists, and specifically the Director General of Customs, explained to compatriots living abroad, the ambitions of the government, which intends to set up, by 2022, a modern customs administration that best contributes to mobilizing revenue for the benefit of the Public Treasury. The establishment of the Import Verification Program (PVI) works to control the customs value of goods; the tracking of goods in transit; the inspection for the certification of the weights and values of goods imported in bulk at the Port of Cotonou and via land borders; the electronic tracking of used vehicles in transit; the control of cargoes using X-ray scanners to increase the efficiency of the Customs Administration; the dematerialization of customs clearance procedures through the installation of an Electronic Portal for all formalities related to foreign trade transactions throughout the national territory (GUCE Single Window for Foreign Trade) via the assistance of the technical partner Webb Fontaine; the migration of all

The automated management of deposits through notifications, the issuance of final approvals to companies are also functional. During their presentation, the panelists mentioned stock accounting in warehouses, which are currently being finalized and which will ultimately allow automated management of stock accounting in MAD MAE, storage warehouses, special and industrial warehouses; the establishment of the value committee, which allows the introduction of automatic allowances in ASYCUDA by type of product. Taking part in the session, Taïrou Mama, economic operator and managing director of SITT, recognized and welcomed the effectiveness of these measures and wanted to see what is already being done strengthened. This diligence by the Beninese customs authorities has undoubtedly produced important results, particularly in the face of the successive situations of recent years, namely, devaluation of the Naira, border closures and the health crisis