Trade facilitation
The aim of the regional trade facilitation programme is to promote intra-SACU trade amongst Member States. In an effort to promote intra-SACU trade amongst Member States, a range of activities and initiatives currently being pursued to facilitate trade at the national, bilateral and regional levels have been considered and consolidated into a single plan. Consequently, six priority areas to underpin the SACU trade facilitation programme have been identified, focussing on IT Interconnectivity; Enforcement; Improving Border Efficiencies; Partnerships with Traders; Legislation; and establishing One Stop Border Posts. This programme is underpinned by a set of principles to support customs cooperation and trade facilitation initiatives in the region. These principles are aimed at facilitating cooperation among Member States and include:
- Focussing the trade facilitation initiatives on delivery i.e. making a real and measurable difference on the ground and targeting quick wins;
- The need to enhance the monitoring and implementation capacity for trade facilitation programmes;
- The provision of leadership by Member States in the co-ordination of donor activities and various customs activities in SACU; and
- Leveraging on best practices and current bilateral and national initiatives in pursuit of the SACU trade facilitation initiatives. A detailed action plan for implementing the programme has been prepared. The programme emphasises joint training of Customs Officials as well as consideration of border operating hours amongst other things.