the presentation summarizes the transformation of the Borderless Alliance, from an advocacy campaign to a non-profit organization of forty members. It also mentions upcoming events on the alliance\'s advocacy agenda for the upcoming few months.

1. THE BORDERLESS ALLIANCE:
FROM DREAM TO REALITY
By: Ziad Hamoui, President, Borderless Alliance
06-NOV-12, Logistics West Africa 2012, Eko Hotel, Lagos

2. Current Situation in West Africa
Reality on the ground contradicts pledges of
improvement and hinders efforts in the sub region:
1. Public sector is stagnant (Status Quo)
2. Private sector is fragmented (Cannot ignite change)
3. Consumer is frustrated (Very high cost of goods)
4. Trader/Producer is uncompetitive (High cost of doing business)

3. Consequences on Trade and Transport
• High Costs; West African freight costs among highest in the world
• Long delays; Ports, Borders, Inland Terminals, and Checkpoints
• Uncertainty in Time and Costs; Unpredictability discourage investment
• Corruption; Illegal stops, procedures, delays and costs are rampant

4. West African producers struggle to compete internationally

5. legend
COUNTRY RANK, LPI 2010 RANK, LPI 2012 CHANGE
Better
…
Worse SOUTH AFRICA 28 23 +5
EGYPT 92 57 +35
…
BENIN 69 67 +2
COTE D'IVOIRE 109 83 +26
NIGER 106 87 +19
GUINEA BISSAU 149 94 +55 (*)
TOGO 96 97 -1
WEST AFRICA
GHANA 117 108 +9
SENEGAL 58 110 -52 (*)
GUINEA 97 115 -18
GAMBIA 113 118 -5
LIBERIA 127 119 +8
NIGERIA 100 121 -21 (*)
Sources:
MAURITANIA X 127
-World Bank Logistics
Performance Index 2010
BURKINA FASO 145 134 +9
SIERRA LEONE 153 150 +3
-World Bank Logistics
Performance Index 2012 MALI 139 X
(modified) CAPE VERDE X X

6. Everyone WANTS positive, permanent change but
How do we ACHIEVE positive, permanent change??
ADVOCACY can result in change
• The public and private sectors have to work together for CHANGE to
happen !
• Issues need to be addressed at the decision making level for CHANGE
to happen !

7. BORDERLESS Vision
 Promoting competitive trade in West Africa; eliminating barriers to
trade and transport
 Collaborating on Simplified and harmonized procedures, for the free
movement of people and goods, unhindered by delays along the
corridors
 Encouraging investment, for the creation of more jobs and more
income for people and governments
Competitive trade
Standardized Increased
Procedures Employment

8. Why we need BORDERLESS
Trade and Transport Facilitation very beneficiary across a
broad spectrum of agencies:
1. TRADERS & 2. GOV 3. SERVICE
4.CONSUMERS
PRODUCERS AGENCIES PROVIDERS
• Less Cost of • More Taxes • Higher Asset • Less Costly
Trade Collected Turnaround Goods
• Less Time for • Less • Less • Higher
import/export Fraudulence Additional Purchasing
• More • Job Creation Charges Power
investment • Lower Costs

9. Everybody is a consumer
Value Invested by Barriers to trade:
Consumer - Business Environment
- Import Procedure
- Checkpoints
- Borders
- Profit Margins
Value Received at
Point of Sale
Value Leakage

10. • BORDERLESS campaign was Launched in March 2010 at Seme-
Krake (Since then, Road shows, Conferences, Reports, Caravans…)
•Evolved into advocacy group; in May 2011, the Borderless Alliance
was born, then in May 2012, the alliance was launched

11. Previous Advocacy Successful Activities
(Based on recommendations from the Trade Hub technical studies)
1. Meetings with Ghana CEPS commissioner & Parliamentary Transport Committee
2. RESULT: Elimination of the ‘GO-RO boys’ at Ghana/Burkina Faso border
1. Publication of 17th quarterly road governance Report (Now at 19th report)
2. RESULT: Minister of Security of Togo eliminates checkpoints
1. Inauguration of Border Information Center at Aflao (Ghana/Togo Border)
2. RESULT: Measured reduction of transit time by more than 50% in a year

12. Current Advocacy Priority Issues
1. Deployment of new BICs (Paga, Elubo, Seme-Krake) within next six months
2. Objective: to extend reduction in cross-border delay time & cost to regional level
1. Piloting an ‘Express/Expedited Lane’ in Ghana (based on ETLS)
2. objective: to expedite clearance procedure and reduce delays/costs
1. Reduction of Transit fees across Abidjan-Lagos coastal corridor
2. Objective; to increase volume of regional trade

13. How to Overcome Challenges?
STRENGTH
UNIFIED VOICE OF
CLOUT OF
IN PRIVATE SECTOR ADVISORS
NUMBERS
REPRESENTATION

14. Elements of Successful Advocacy
1. Credibility: regularly updated data provide verifiable proof
2. Visibility: perceiving obstacles at all levels of operations, on
a regional level
3. Versatility: Problem-solving approach to barriers of trade
and transport (troubleshooting)
4. Communication: Dialogue with stakeholders to the highest
levels

15. Accrued Benefits to Supporting Alliance
Member-Specific: Non Members-Specific:
1. Technical Assistance 1. Reduced Costs and Delays
2. Complaint follow-through Across the Region
3. Networking Opportunity 2. Better Business
4. Regional recognition Environment
3. More Competitive Trade

16. Steps Completed So Far
1. Borderless Alliance registered as a non-profit organization
2. Temporary housing/funding provided by West Africa Trade Hub
3. “Internal Regulations” & “Code of Ethics” drafted
4. First Annual Stakeholders Conference held in Abidjan on May
15-16, 2012; more than 175 participants
5. Series of events and workshops held at Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria,
Senegal, Benin and Burkina Faso, with many more on the way

17. The Way Ahead: Two-fold Plan
1. Further Mobilization of Private Sector (Increase Members, National
Chapters, Workgroups…)
2. Implementation of Elements of Advocacy Agenda
- Additional BICs
- Express Lanes
- Strategic Partnerships (Advisors, Authorities, Other Alliances)
Engaging Regional Authorities Effectively
(ECOWAS, Regional Governments, Regulatory Bodies…)

18. Upcoming Annual Borderless Conference
Attendance/Registration details at booth #D25

19.  We believe that positive, permanent change is possible
 We believe that we can achieve a borderless West Africa
Join us in Our Campaign
www.borderlesswa.com