Beitoese from abroad exchanged by videoconference with the heads of financial agencies including Benin Customs on the reforms implemented to improve the business climate in Benin. It was Sunday 08 August 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 Duties, Nicolas YENOUSSI Director General of Taxes, Gwendal Euzen Managing Director of Benin Control S.A and Fontaine Anicet Houngbo Managing Director 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 the B From outside in Venice. 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 participates in the mobilization of revenues for the benefit of the Public Treasury. The implementation of the Import  Verification Program (IVP) works to control the value for duty of goods; tracking of goods in transit;  inspection for the certification of the weights and values of goods imported in bulk at the Port of Cotonou and via land borders; electronic tracking of used vehicles in transit; cargo control using X-ray scanners to increase the efficiency of the Customs Administration; the dematerialization of customs clearance procedures via the installation of an Electronic Portal for all formalities relating to foreign trade transactions throughout the national territory (Single Window for Foreign Trade GUCE) via the assistance of the technical partner Webb Fontaine; migration of all Customs Units to ASYCUDA WORLD.

Automated management of bonds through notifications, issuance of final approvals to companies are also functional. The panelists during their presentation, evoked the stock accounting in the warehouses being finalized and which will ultimately allow an automated management of the stock accounting in the MAD MAE, the storage warehouses, the special and industrial warehouses; the establishment of the value committee which allows for the introduction of automatic allowances in ASYCUDA by type of product. Taking part in the session, Taïrou Mama, economic operator and Director General of SITT recognized and praised the effectiveness of these measures and wished to see the strengthening of what is already being done. This diligence of Beninese customs has undoubtedly produced important results, particularly in the face of the successive situations of recent years, namely the devaluation of the Naira, border closures and the health crisis related to COVID-19.