WCO workshop under the SACU regional Economic Development Programme
May 2009
For the benefit of a better trade climate and higher regional integration the Customs services of the Southern Africa Customs Union –SACU- have committed towards the common implementation of a regional Economic Development Programme. Having agreed upon a regional Customs reform strategy the SACU region developed Terms of References for programme implementation in 6 core areas. National Project Mangers have been nominated in all SACU Members who are dedicated to this reform programme.
In May 2009 these National Project Managers and representatives of the SACU Secretariat joined a WCO led workshop at Johannesburg/South Africa aiming at planning and cost estimate of their regional Customs reform activities.
This workshop got enabled thanks to the financial contribution by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency – SIDA. All organizational arrangements on the spot were well arranged by the SACU Secretariat.
The outcome of this mission got approved by the SACU Technical Committee; it provides a basis document for the launch of the project implementation in occasion of a forthcoming Steering Committee Meeting.