In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 29 July 2015 between the customs of BENIN and NIGER on interconnection and following the implementation of the exchange of data between the customs IT systems of the two countries, 1^era meeting of the working group was held in Cotonou on 03 and 04 January 2019.

The opening ceremony was co-chaired by the Director General of Customs and Indirect Rights of Benin, Mr. Charles Inousa SACCA BOCO and the Deputy Director General of Niger Customs, Mr. Oumarou AMADOU PETITOT. The two Directors General welcomed the vitality of customs cooperation between the two administrations. They then stressed the importance of the interconnection of the information systems of the two administrations and the implementation of international electronic transit. Finally, they invited the members of the working group to continue the technical discussions and wished the work every success.

It should be noted that for the conduct of work, a meeting room has been established and an agenda adopted. The Bureau is composed as follows:

• President: Mauritius Emiola ADEFALOU, Inspector of Customs, Director of Legislation and International Customs Relations of Benin;
• Co-Chair: Mohamed YACOUBA SIDO, Senior Customs Inspector, Head of Gaya Customs Office in Niger;
• 1^and Rapporteur: Mr. Yves GBAGUIDI, Computer Engineer, Customs Benin
• 2^nd Rapporteur: Mr. Souley IBRAHIM, Computer Engineer, Customs Niger.

The agenda adopted was as follows:

1 - Adoption of the work plan of the meeting;

2- presentation of the current T1 management procedure at country level;

3 – presentation of the difficulties encountered and proposals for solutions;

4- presentation of Webb Fontaine's solution;

5- visit of the Terminal A Containers of Allada and the company Benin Control;

6- Joint organization of the celebration of the International Customs Day (JID) on 25 January 2019 in Malanville;

7- miscellaneous.

Following the work, several recommendations were made, including:

• the holding of quarterly meetings of the Interconnection Working Group in Benin and Niger to monitor transit operations;
• the creation of exchange and discussion groups (mailing list and whatsapp) for the prompt handling of difficulties;
• further raising awareness among stakeholders, in particular registrants, carriers and economic operators, by both parties (02).

The meeting was attended by representatives of the customs administrations of Benin and Niger, as well as the representative of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, the technical partners of Benin customs, namely Benin Control S.A. and Webb Fontaine.