MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

bitmap in copaz

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

BENIN-NIGERIA-TOGO CO-PROSPERITY ALLIANCE ZONE (COPAZ) ABUJA, NIGERIA.

8 February, 2007

PREAMBLE

WE, the Heads of State and Government of the Republic of Benin, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Togolese Republic.

Meeting in Abuja, at Summit level on 8 February 2007, to strengthen the mutually beneficial traditional links of friendship and economic cooperation existing between our three countries and peoples;

Concerned by the persistent marginalization of African States;

Recognizing that one of the most practical means of addressing Africa’s marginalization is instituting a sustained cooperation between the three States and implementing concrete common actions, on the basis of a coherent integration programme;

Desirous of putting in place a suitable and equitable institutional framework and alliance which emphasize shared economic development

and growth; free movement of goods, persons, capital and services; harmonization of monetary and investment policies and mechanisms; and the equitable sharing of gains and costs;

HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

CHAPTER ONE:                  

ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE

 

Article One:                 ESTABLISHMENT

There is hereby established between the three countries, an ALLIANCE FOR CO-PROSPERITY (Hereinafter referred to as “ALLIANCE”)

Article 2:             PURPOSE

The Alliance is established for the following purposes:

i).      The three States freely choose to integrate their national economies on the basis of common platform that seeks to promote interests in dealing with shared visions and concerns arising from the imperatives of global competitiveness and inter-dependence;

  1. ii) The three states share sufficient mutual aspirations as to commit themselves at the political leadership and followership levels to the endeavour, and

iii)     The three states propose, in due course, to admit other like-minded neighbours desirous of participating in the Alliance.


CHAPTER II:     MECHANISM

Article 3-             COUNCIL OF HEADS OF STATE/GOVERNMENT

1)      There shall be a Council of Heads of State and Government on Co-Prosperity, comprising the three Presidents of Benin, Nigeria and Togo.

2)      The Council shall be assisted by the Ministers in charge of:

  1. i) Foreign Affairs,
  2. ii) Interior and Security,

iii)     Finance and Development,

  1. iv) Education,
  2. v) Commerce and Industry,
  3. vi) Transportation and Communication

Infrastructure

vii)    Culture, Tourism and Sports

viii)   Justice

  1. ix) Mines, and Steel
  2. x) Energy and Petroleum Resources
  3. xi) Agriculture and Water Resources

3) The Council shall be chaired by the host President and meet twice a year to define the parameters of cooperation, set the policy direction and provide broad political leadership for the Co-Prosperity Alliance Zone.

4) The immediate priorities of the Council shall be in the areas of harmonizing Foreign Policy, management of Sea Ports, monetary policy, establishing common Social and Economic infrastructure, and operating an Open Border Policy, especially with respect to the free movement of persons, goods and services.


Article 4.             EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  1. There shall be an Executive Committee on Co-Prosperity chaired by the Foreign Ministers of Benin, Nigeria and Togo.
  1. Other members of the Committee shall include the Ministers of:
  2. i) Interior and Security
  3. ii) Finance and Development

iii) Commerce and Industry

  1. iv) Transportation and Communication Infrastructure
  2. v) Culture, Tourism and Sports
  3. vi) Mines and Steel Development

vii) Justice

viii) Energy and Petroleum Resources

  1. ix) Agriculture and Water Resources
  1. The Committee shall meet quarterly to examine, agree and supervise implementation of the decisions of the Council, set new targets and goals for the Technical Support Facility, the Sub-Committees, and the Stakeholders.


Article 5:    SUB-COMMITTEE ON PEACE AND SECURITY

  1. There shall be a Sub-Committee on Peace and Security chaired by the Chief of Police of host country.
  1. Other members of this Committee shall be
  2. i) Foreign Affairs;
  3. ii) Immigration;

iii) Justice

  1. iv) Customs and,
  2. v) Other Security Services as may be deemed necessary,

The Sub-Committee on Peace and Security shall meet quarterly and be adequately equipped to effectively execute the joint management of border posts, structures, and border patrol operations – along the land and maritime boundaries of the three countries. The Alliance shall redouble efforts to reduce all impediments to free movements of goods and services.


Article 6.    SUB-COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

  1. There shall be a Sub-Committee on Public/ Private Partnership, comprising:
  2. i) Representatives of Captains of industry (banking and finance, manufacturing, processing, agriculture, fishing, communication, construction, mining, energy etc);
  3. ii) Representatives of the Organized Private Sector (e.g. MAN, NACCIMA, Chambers of Commerce and Industry as may be required), National Employers Council;

iii)     Representatives of the Public Sector Agencies, Companies and Corporations;

  1. iv) Representatives of Universities and other Institutions of Research and Higher Learning.
  1. The Sub-Committee shall meet quarterly to, among other things:
  • facilitate cross-border trade in products originating and manufactured from the three countries;
  • identify new areas of investment/cooperation, and
  • -agree on funding and modalities for implementation.
  • Agree on development of public/private partnership in ports sector.


Article 7.    SUB-COMMITTEE ON CULTURE, TOURISM

AND SPORTS

1)      There shall be a Sub-Committee on Culture, Tourism and Sports comprising Ministers of Culture and Tourism and Sports of Member States. The Sub-Committee shall comprise:

(i)      Representatives of Culture, Tourism and Sports Institutions;

(ii)     Representatives of Organised Private Sectors involved in Culture, Tourism and Sports;

(iii)    Representatives of Universities (for the teaching of French and English Languages).

2) The Sub-Committee shall be chaired by the Host country. It shall meet quarterly to discuss cooperation, development and exchange in culture, tourism and sports.


Article 8.    TECHNICAL SUPPORT FACILITY

  1. There shall be established in Abuja, Nigeria, a Technical Support Facility (TSF) of the Co-Prosperity Alliance Zone. The TSF shall have an Executive Secretary and two Deputy Secretaries with support staffs as may be required to promote and execute all aspects of development cooperation, trade and industrial enterprises as envisaged and agreed in the articles of the Co-Prosperity Alliance Zone (COPAZ).

In this connection, priority shall be given to the following areas:

  1. i) collective implementation of an investment promotion and protection arrangement to guarantee the survival of private investments in the three countries;
  1. ii) collective monitoring of border and maritime issues to ensure sustainable peace and security;

iii)     overseeing the deepening of integration in:

  1. a) transportation and communication;
  2. b) agriculture and manufacturing;
  3. c) training in English and French languages, and exchange of teachers;
  4. d) Mines, Energy and Power development and sharing;
  5. e) cooperation in security matters – greater Military and Police joint training and manouvers;
  6. f) cooperation in cultural, tourism and sports exchanges and development;
  7. g) the establishment of border markets where the naira and CFA will be the currencies of exchange;
  1. Focal points of the Technical Support Facility shall be established in the two other countries.


CHAPTER III:   MISCELLANEOUS AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 9:             FUNDING

Funding of the activities and functions of the Co-Prosperity Alliance shall be determined on the basis of an agreed formula by the participating States.


Article 10:           EXPANDED MEMBERSHIP

The Alliance shall involve Benin, Nigeria and Togo as “Founding Members”, and other countries in ECOWAS and the Gulf of Guinea, may join as it evolves and proves its functional relevance.


Article 11:  ROLE OF MINISTERS OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

OF MEMBER STATES

Without prejudice to the contacts normally established through Embassies, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the three countries shall coordinate the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding.


Article 12.  ENTRY INTO FORCE

This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force on the date of its signing.


Article 13.  CONDITIONS AND MODALITIES OF

IMPLEMENTATION

The conditions and modalities of implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be determined by protocols and exchange of notes, as applicable.


Article 14:  SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

Any dispute arising from the implementation or interpretation of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be settled by diplomatic means.


Article 15:  AMENDMENT AND WITHDRAWAL

  1. This Memorandum of Understanding may be amended or withdrawn by any one of the member States by diplomatic means.
  1. The amendment or withdrawal shall take effect six (6) months after the other parties have been notified.


Done at Abuja, this 8th day of February, 2007, in three original copies, in French and English, both versions being equally authentic.

 

SIGNED:

 

His Excellency Dr. Boni YAYI,

President of the Republic of Benin.


His Excellency Alhaji Umaru Musa YAR’ADUA,

President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.


His Excellency Mr. Faure Essozimna GNASSINBGE.

President of the Republic of Togo


His Excellency Mr. John Dramani MAHAMA,

Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.’