Niger President Bazoum Receives Ministers of Transport and Trade to Discuss African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf)

The President of the Republic of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, held a meeting with the Ministers of Transport and Trade from Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo. The purpose of their visit was to present the outcomes of a ministerial meeting held earlier that day in Niamey.

During the meeting, the focus was on the Quadrilateral Declaration, which aims to achieve convergence in the legal framework for road transport as part of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf). Ms. Assouman Alimatou Shadiya, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Benin, shared this information as she departed from the audience with President Bazoum.

Integration of Ports and Harmonization of Regulatory Texts

Ms. Assouman Alimatou Shadiya emphasized the significance of the ports of Cotonou and Lomé, which play an essential role in trade for Niger and Burkina Faso. She highlighted the importance of harmonizing regulatory texts among the four countries to ensure a smooth flow of goods and possibly people. This revision of the regulatory framework for transportation aims to facilitate trade and promote the economic development of neighboring and brotherly nations.

The Ministers of Transport and Trade expressed their gratitude for the encouragement and guidance received from President Bazoum of Niger, as well as the Presidents of Benin, Togo, and Burkina Faso. The leaders emphasized the need for alignment among the countries, aiming to transform trade into a significant source of income and a crucial pillar of development for their respective states.