The background
Foreign trade procedures in Niger once required businesses to navigate multiple institutions, systems and paper-based processes. Importers and exporters had to coordinate separately with government agencies, banks and technical ministries to complete foreign-exchange formalities, obtain licences and authorisations, make payments and fulfil reporting requirements. This fragmented environment limited visibility, slowed procedures and created risks around the control and traceability of trade-related payments.
The Guichet Unique du Commerce Extérieur (GUCE-Niger) was introduced to create a more connected and transparent trade environment. Launched in 2022, the platform brings Customs, financial institutions, trade operators and key government bodies into a single digital ecosystem.
These include the Ministry of Finance through the Direction de la Monnaie, du Crédit et de l’Épargne (DMCE), the Ministry of Commerce through the Direction du Commerce Extérieur, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Niger (CCIN), the Ministry of Agriculture through the Direction Générale de la Protection des Végétaux (DGPV), the Ministry of Livestock through its sanitary and veterinary directorates, and the Ministry of Health through the Nigerien Pharmaceutical Sector Regulatory Agency (ANRP).
The action
Webb Fontaine designed and implemented GUCE-Niger as a comprehensive Single Window for Foreign Trade, integrating import, export, licensing, foreign-exchange, payment and reporting procedures. At the heart of the platform is the Trade Virtual Folder (TVF), which dematerialises key trade documents and processes, including the statistical file, hydrocarbon licences and foreign-exchange domiciliation. The LPCO (digital management of Licenses, Permits, Certificats and Others) module enables technical ministries to issue import and export authorisations digitally, while e-Report supports trade statistics and reporting. Webb Executive Vision provides decision-makers with executive dashboards and greater visibility into trade activity.
The platform also connects all banks to e-Forex for foreign-exchange domiciliation and transfers. Paylican has supported electronic payments since the launch of GUCE-Niger, with Ecobank and Orabank connected to the service. AMANA Transfer is also available, while NITA Transfer is in the final stage of deployment and has already processed its first two payments. Physical stamp duties are now calculated and paid digitally through the platform, reducing the risks of counterfeit stamps, reuse and uncontrolled resale.
The ecosystem continues to expand. An e-Voyage Air module has been developed and is awaiting demonstration and validation by the authorities. Webb Fontaine continues to integrate new institutions and services while providing ongoing technical and operational support to government agencies, banks and trade stakeholders.
The growing adoption of GUCE-Niger is already visible. Following the introduction of TVF field control in Customs declarations on 16 July 2026, the platform recorded 2,368 TVF and e-Forex for foreign-exchange documents during July, 123% above the monthly average for the first six months of the year. Furthermore, the number of registered users in GUCE increased by 512%.
