08 September 2010

SACU Executive Secretary

Executive Secretary’s Profile

Ms Tswelopele Cornelia Moremi is the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). With the signing of the new SACU Agreement in 2002, Ms Moremi, a National of Botswana, was entrusted as the First Executive Secretary of SACU with the responsibility of establishing the SACU Secretariat in Windhoek, Namibia in January 2004.

Ms Moremi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Botswana and a Masters in Development Studies with a specialization in Economics and Social Policy Studies from the Institute of Development Studies in The Hague, Holland. She has served in senior positions within the Botswana Government Civil service namely first as the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and then as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Trade and Industry.

During her Tenure as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Botswana, Ms Moremi, was responsible for the overall provision of Policy Guidance on Trade and Industry Issues. She spearheaded the successful restructuring of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, including the establishment of new Prasatatals, namely the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) and the Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS). She also spearheaded the development of a new Industrial Development Policy; Small, Medium to Micro business Enterprises (SMME) Policy; the development of a new Companies Act and a Consumer Protection Act. Ms Moremi participated in several trade negotiations including the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Negotiations and Bi lateral Trade Negotiations. She also led the Ministry of Trade and Industry Team to the renegotiation of the Southern Africa Customs Union Agreement - which culminated in the signing of the 2002 SACU Agreement that came into force in July 2004.

Ms Moremi was instrumental in developing the National Privatization Policy for Botswana. During her tenure in Botswana, She served as a Member of the Presidential Commission on National Education Policy. She also served on a number of Boards in Botswana such as the Bank of Botswana, Debswana Diamond Company, Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) and the Rural Industries Promotion Board. She has also served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), an investment arm of the Botswana Government; in the same Board she served as the Chairperson of its key sub committees such as the Board’s Internal Audit Committee and the Board’s Tender Committee.