Simplified Customs Transit: Push For Health, Humanitarian Supplies

Curtains dropped on a three-day workshop on Thursday May 7 in Douala organised by Unicef, in partnership with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) and the Government of Cameroon. The workshop that ran from 5-7 May and brought together participants from all over Cameroon was to strengthen the digitalization, simplification, and efficiency of import, customs clearance, and transit procedures for essential humanitarian and health supplies. The workshop officially marks Phase 2 of the Accelerating Digitalization and Efficiency in Procurement and Trade Delivery of Essential Products Together- ADEPT programme Cameroon. Representatives from key government ministries, including Public Health, Finance, and External Relations as well as the Customs Administration and the Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations (Guce), United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners all took part. For three days, participants mapped out and reviewed processes related to tax exemptions and customs clearance, identified opportunities for simplification, standardization, and digitalization, explored measures to reduce avoidable costs, including demurrage and detention charges, as well as strengthening coordination of transit operations to neighbouring countries. According to the chief of supply and logistics Unicef Cameroon, Ling Chen, the ADEPT programme was launched in 2024 by Unicef and GATF to reduce delays, costs, and administrative burdens linked to importing vital goods such as vaccines, medicines, medical equipment, and nutrition inputs. She said Cameroon was identified as a priority country because of its strategic posit...