Implementation of a Risk Management System by Cameroon

CustomsPrepared by:

Gasper KONNEH NEBAInspector of Customs

10 July 2012

Outline • Background• Implementation issues• Benefits• Some challenges • Some lessons learned

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Background: motivation for the reform

• As part of a general Customs reform program;• Pressure from the trade and international

partners;• Government policy to improve on the

business environment in the country;• Time release studies and other studies; • The deployment of a new Customs

management system - ASYCUDA++.

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Implementation issues

• Institutional arrangements: creation of a Risk Management Unit;

• Legal framework: reform of Customs procedures;• Logistical, technical and financial issues;• Partnership with other stakeholders: FAL

Committee and Customs/Enterprise Forum;• Phased out implementation process: selectivity,

performance monitoring, other modules.

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Some benefits • Benefits for the government:– Increase in revenue; – Improvement of governance in the Customs

environment;– Performance monitoring;

• Benefits to the trade:– Reduction of clearance time and costs;– The rationalization of Customs controls;– Predictability in the nature and level of controls;– The existence of objective indicators to assess the

compliance level of traders.

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Some challenges

• Resistance to change and lack of cooperation from other agencies and stakeholders;

• Coping with the informal sector;• Lack of adequate funding; • Availability of Customs and computing

expertise.

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Some lessons learned • 100% controls are not necessarily more efficient

than selective controls; • The need for high level support for the project; • The need for dedicated staff and appropriation of

the project by the staff;• Support from partners (traders, other

stakeholders, and international institutions (World Bank, WCO, etc.)

• Gradual implementation: the different modules were rolled out gradually and continue to be developed.

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Thank you for your kind attention!

http://douanescustoms-cm.net

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