At the opening of the regional training workshop for National Focal Points on the Road Fluidity digital application in Cotonou, WACTAF Permanent Secretary, Motchosso Justin MATITOMA, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to promoting smoother, more inclusive and competitive cross-border trade in West Africa.
In his address, he highlighted that, with the support of AGRA, WACTAF is continuing to modernize its tools and intervention mechanisms through the revitalization of the Trade Information and Border Assistance Desk (TIBAD), the digitalization of its monitoring and evaluation system, and the strengthening of the Road Fluidity Operation (RFO). This digital transformation aims to improve data collection, enhance transparency, and facilitate the movement of agro-forestry-pastoral and fisheries products along the region’s trade corridors.
Presenting Road Fluidity as a major innovation, the Permanent Secretary explained that the application will enable traders, transporters, and other economic operators to report obstacles encountered along trade corridors in real time. According to the Permanent Secretary, the information collected through the application will help improve field interventions and support advocacy efforts aimed at ensuring better implementation of regional community regulations.
He also called on all cross-border trade stakeholders to embrace this innovative tool and urged workshop participants to become the first ambassadors of Road Fluidity in their respective countries, making the application a true catalyst for regional trade transformation.
