Ouagadougou: Several delegations from West African countries are meeting Thursday in Ouagadougou for the second edition of the Regional Logistics Days to consider logistics solutions adapted to the realities of West African countries without direct access to the sea, in the context of the effectiveness of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to Burkina Information Agency, this regional meeting brings together private sector actors representing Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, as well as actors from coastal countries partnering with West African transit corridors, namely Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, and Gambia.
Held under the theme "Logistical competitiveness of the West African hinterland in light of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)", this meeting aims to identify solutions capable of improving the fluidity of transit, reducing logistical costs, strengthening the competitiveness of hinterland economies, and promoting better regional and continental trade integration.
The three-day workshop will focus on containerization, transit facilitation, customs regimes, relations with seaports, and structuring projects likely to boost supply chains in the West African area.
The president of the Special Consular Delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burkina Faso (CCI-BF), Achille Roland Sow, emphasized that logistics now constitutes "a real strategic lever of competitiveness". According to him, in the context of the AfCFTA, the ability of states and businesses to deliver "faster, better, and at a lower cost" represents a decisive competitive advantage. He also welcomed the holding of these sessions, which, he said, offer "an opportunity to reflect on the best logistical solutions to the known inadequacies in our region."
The chief of staff to the Minister of Trade, Zakaria Gyengani, noted that the logistics issue has become "strategic and sovereign" for the countries of the West African hinterland. He indicated that despite the prospects offered by the AfCFTA, intra-African trade remains weak compared to other regions of the world, accounting for only 15 to 17% of the continent's total trade.
The minister's representative also called for enhanced cooperation between the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and other regional partners in order to sustainably improve the logistical and commercial performance of the sub-region.
The Regional Logistics Days will continue for three days with panels, exhibitions, and B2B meetings between industry players. As a reminder, with the aim of promoting innovative logistics solutions adapted to the realities of Burkina Faso, the Burkina Faso Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched the National Logistics Days in 2013. Over time, the event has generated increasing interest, extending beyond national borders to become, since 2022, the Regional Logistics Days.