The Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC) commission has attributed the low intra-community trade in the CEMAC region to the numerous physical and regulatory obstacles placed on the free movement of goods, services, capital, and persons.

The commission estimates trade within the region as below 3 percent. Governments of the CEMAC zone countries are therefore planning for a mixed inter-state custom brigade in the region.

For this purpose, Cameroon's Directorate-General of Customs recently held a meeting to enhance proposals of the draft regulation on the creation, organization, and operation of the mixed inter-state customs brigade. 

Among the proposals made by the CEMAC commission, the legal status of the staff employed by the brigade would be clarified, the nature of their works, the necessary tools they will need and how their work will be elaborated.

According to sources, it has also been suggested that integration of the member states will be promoted by facilitating the transportation, transit of goods and the promotion of free movement within the region.

The brigade would be equipped with modern non-intrusive tools such as; scanners, metal detectors among others while the inter-state corridors are expected to be modernized, officials plan.

While the Cameroon customs are still pondering over this plan, the zone has set its own deadline (2025) for full preparedness towards emergence where they expect security and good governance to prevail.  

Meanwhile, the Commission thinks that due to the small size of national markets, CEMAC countries have no choice but to unite for prospects if their economic activities must be diversified towards the envisaged emergence.