AfCFTA Secretariat, Bergmans sign US$3.1bn deal to modernise Africa’s Customs Systems

Under the project, customs administrations will be supported to simplify and digitalise procedures, strengthen coordination and improve the movement of goods across borders — an important requirement for translating Africa's single market into increased trade among State Parties.

The areas earmarked for implementation include customs digital solutions, secure electronic exchange of customs information, coordinated border management, One Stop Border Posts, modern transit systems and electronic cargo tracking for goods in transit.

The project will also cover non-intrusive inspection technology, integrated data centres, multilingual customs portals, risk management systems, data analytics and capacity building.

These interventions are expected to reduce border clearance times while strengthening customs control and safeguarding public revenue. They are also intended to improve supply-chain predictability for manufacturers, exporters, transporters and other businesses operating across African markets.

For businesses, improved customs connectivity and greater interoperability between national systems could make moving goods from one African market to another faster, safer, more transparent and more predictable.

Speaking at the signing, Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said modernising customs systems was central to creating an efficient continental trading environment.

“We have a singular and shared ambition, to position customs systems in Africa to be digital, to be at the service of Africa’s economy and to ensure transparency and accountability. This Agreement is an important step towards translating that ambition into practical improvements at Africa’s borders,” he said.

Under the Concession Agreement, Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited will mobilise the financing and technical expertise required to support deployment of the project, drawing on its experience in customs modernisation and digital trade infrastructure.

Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, OON, Chairman of Bergmans Security Consultants and Supplies Limited, described the agreement as an important step towards developing infrastructure capable of supporting trade across the continent.

“This Agreement represents an important step towards building secure, efficient and scalable trade infrastructure across Africa. We are committed to working with the AfCFTA Secretariat, State Parties and customs administrations to deploy solutions that facilitate trade, strengthen revenue protection and build African capacity,” he said.

The Concession Agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding concluded between the AfCFTA Secretariat and Bergmans in July 2026 and marks the transition from initial cooperation towards implementation of the AfCFTA Customs Modernisation Project.

A major objective will be to promote interoperability among customs systems and progressively harmonise border procedures. This is expected to contribute to the wider AfCFTA ambition of creating an integrated African market in which goods can move more efficiently across national borders.

Implementation arrangements will be developed in consultation with participating State Parties, national customs administrations and other relevant stakeholders.

The project comes as the continent continues implementation of the AfCFTA, one of the flagship projects of the African Union's Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

The Agreement establishing the AfCFTA entered into force on 30 May 2019 and brings together the 55 Member States of the African Union into a single market of approximately 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of about US$3.4 trillion.

The AfCFTA is the world's largest free trade area by number of participating countries. Its Secretariat, headquartered in Accra and led by Secretary-General H.E. Wamkele Mene, coordinates implementation of the Agreement in cooperation with State Parties, Regional Economic Communities and continental institutions.

Through the customs modernisation project, the Secretariat is seeking to address one of the practical requirements of continental integration: ensuring that goods can cross African borders through customs systems that are increasingly digital, interconnected, transparent and efficient.