The Ivorian Customs Administration has received a significant shipment of computer equipment donated by TradeMark Africa, with financial support from the UK-FCDO. This initiative aims to strengthen the technological capabilities of border posts, particularly at the Noé border crossing and in the eastern border areas with Ghana.
At the official handover ceremony on Thursday, May 7, 2026, Erick Sirali, Director of Digital Trade Systems at TradeMark Africa, ordered the technological advances made by Ivorian Customs. He emphasized that the increasing volume of trade is placing significant pressure on customs services, hence the need for high-performance equipment to improve the quality of service provided to users and economic operators.
According to him, this equipment, defined in collaboration with the Customs Information Systems Directorate, will streamline exchanges and offer better working conditions for agents. He also announced new projects in preparation with Ivorian Customs, particularly concerning the integration of artificial intelligence into customs information systems.
The representative of UK-FCDO , Steve Green, responsible for Sustainable Growth at the UK Embassy , for his part reaffirmed the British commitment to the development of regional trade and investments in Côte d’Ivoire. He praised the collaboration between the United Kingdom, TradeMark Africa and regional players to improve trade.
Representing the Director General of Customs, General BAHIN Lejeune expressed the customs institution’s gratitude for this strategic support. He reiterated that border posts play a central role in facilitating trade, securing revenue, and promoting regional economic integration.
The donation includes tablets, protective cases, computer equipment, and an upgrade of the dedicated connection’s bandwidth from 8 to 16 MB. This equipment will strengthen the operational capabilities of customs services and improve the speed of border operations.
The representative of the Director General of Customs also indicated that this support is part of the efforts to implement the regional customs data exchange system SIGMAT , a key tool for interconnecting the customs administrations of ECOWAS member states and facilitating regional trade.
The Directorate General of Customs has finally ensured that optimal use will be made of this equipment in order to further improve the efficiency of controls and the quality of the public customs service.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article or report do not necessarily reflect those of TradeMark Africa (TMA).
Read the original article at: TradeMark Africa equips Ivorian Customs with the support of the United Kingdom