The Government of Benin has officially received the Single Window for Foreign Trade (GUCE BENIN). The ceremony was held on 21 July 2023 at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in the presence of the Director of Cabinet of the Minister of Economy and Finance and the Director General of Customs.

It was in September 2017 that the President of the Republic of Benin, His Excellency Patrice TALON, took the initiative to create the Single Window of Foreign Trade of Benin with the aim of simplifying procedures, centralizing data and dematerializing all operations related to import, export and transit. Webb Fontaine was selected to lead this very important project for the government. The operationalisation of the GUCE took place in 2018 and the benefits of this Single Window have been felt, particularly in terms of compliance with regulations, reducing costs and deadlines, and improving the efficiency of administrations, in particular customs administrations and the business climate. Financial transactions have also been greatly facilitated by Paylican's e-Payment module, which has recorded over CFAF 900 billion in electronic payments since its deployment. In implementing the GUCE, Webb Fontaine worked extensively with Benin Customs.

The establishment of the GUCE thus allows the Benin Customs today:

• To ensure the management of the commercial transaction (import declaration) followed by the on-line issue of the required documents (authorisations, licences, certificates...) by the technical directorates of the Ministries.
• To facilitate the processing of the submission of applications for valuation and classification of imported goods as well as those relating to the customs declaration.
• To facilitate the payment of import and export declarations and permits electronically.
• To process import and export licences, certificates and authorizations electronically.
• To process foreign exchange authorizations and liabilities approved by commercial banks and the Treasury.
• To better manage exemptions.
• D a centralized management of invoicing and electronic payment of these invoices by various means.

But in terms of Webb Fontaine's contributions, in addition to the IT component, there have also been institutional reforms in terms of capacity building for the Customs Administration. Several achievements have been made for Benin Customs thanks to the support of Webb Fontaine. These include:

• The implementation of the approved Economic Operator (OAS) programme
• Reform of Customs Revenue Hydrocarbons
• Reform of the Customs Intelligence and Investigations Directorate
• Various training courses for customs officers.

These reforms facilitate the improvement of customs revenues.