The WCO-SACU Connect project Steering Committee Meeting took place on 17 November 2017 in Swaziland. The WCO-SACU Project financed by Sweden aims to support the SACU region with the implementation of its ambitious Regional Customs Modernization Programme, which includes four components: IT Connectivity, Trade Partnership, Risk Management and Legislative Reform.

At the occasion of this meeting, the SACU Secretariat, the Commissioner-Customs of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland together with the WCO Secretariat reviewed the progress of the programme in 2017 and agreed on the annual work plan for 2018. Highlights of 2017 included the finalization of the regional IT Connectivity Blue Print, the official launch of the national Preferred Trader Programme in South Africa as well as the conclusion of the regional enforcement operation in the textile sector “Operation Texo” that yielded in the recovery of nearly 500 000 USD in Customs duties.

The 2018 roadmap will particularly focus on intensifying national efforts to operationalize the regional IT frameworks (regional Utility Blocks, regional UCR) developed with the support of the project as well as on fast-tracking legislative reforms and roll-out of the national and regional Preferred trader programme. 

For more information about this activity in particular and the WCO-SACU Connect project in general, please contact the WCO-SACU Connect Project Regional Project Manager, Mr. Dalton Nxumalo (dalton.nxumalo@wcoomd.org ).