ICC Commends Westblue for Improved Trade Facilitation

By Eromosele Abiodun

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Office in Ghana has commended Westblue Consulting Limited – technical consultant of the Ghana Single Window Project, for its salutary role in simplifying the country’s cross-border trade, thereby enhancing the competiveness of the Ghanaian economy globally.

Speaking on the heels of the recent entry into force of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA),  ICC Ghana Secretary General, Mr. Emmanuel Doni-Kwame said he appreciated the support from Westblue Consulting and other institutions such as AGI, World Trade Centre Accra, GUTA, Shipowners Association of Ghana, Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, FAGE, Ghana Employers Association, Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Shippers Authority as well as the encouragement of the Ministry of Trade and the Parliament of Ghana towards the ratification of the TFA by Ghana in January this year.

Chief Executive Officer of West Blue Consulting and a member of ICC Ghana, Ms. Valentina Mintah,  said the Ghana National Single Window, a trade facilitation programme, plays a key role in the execution of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, with up to 15 Sub Articles covered by the programme.

“With the entry into force of the TFA, we are confident of achieving a further reduction in time and cost of doing business in Ghana, whilst providing a level playing field for all trade participants”, she said.

Mintah added, “The Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the first multilateral trade agreement to enter into force in over two decades—aims to make trade easier and simpler by cutting red-tape at borders. This landmark global trade agreement could boost global trade flows by over $1trillion.

“ICC has estimated that the agreement could support the creation of some 20 million jobs worldwide— the vast majority in developing countries. The TFA now becomes an official part of the multilateral trading system which covers more than 96 per cent of global GDP.

“The Chamber is actively supporting the implementation of the TFA through the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation—a major public-private partnership supported by a number of donor governments and international businesses. The Alliance is currently rolling out trade facilitation projects in some developing countries based on TFA standards.”

 

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