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East Africa at the forefront of Customs modernization

15 六月 2009
East Africa at the forefront of Customs modernization!

A common Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) model is to be implemented as a top priority by the five East African Community (EAC) countries (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda), with mutual recognition between the five EAC countries. When implemented the AEO model will be the first operational model in Africa and one of the first models of this kind in the world, and will give the business community considerable benefits in the future.

The proposed common AEO model is part of the World Customs Organization (WCO) – East African Community Customs modernization project, which recently held its third Project Steering Committee (SC) in Kampala, Uganda. This is a development project sponsored by the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA). It is designed to implement modern customs procedures for the five East African Community (EAC) countries, based on WCO international conventions and standards.

The meeting in Kampala, chaired by Mrs. Allen Kagina, Commissioner General of Uganda Revenue Authority, was very successful and the project has now moved into the operational implementation phase. The agreed action plan will be concentrated on Trade Facilitation for business which is especially important under the difficult circumstances of the Global Financial Crisis.

In a comment Commissioner General Kagina, says;

“The World Customs Organization (WCO) - East African Community Customs modernization project presents the best opportunity for total transformation of customs administrations in the region in addition to making East Africa an investment destination of choice. The financial support from SIDA could not have been more timely.”

Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, Director of Customs at the EAC secretariat, made the following statement about the project;

“The Customs modernization project comes at a time when the EAC Customs union is consolidating into a fully fledged phase and transforming into a common market. It therefore reinforces the ongoing regional programs on customs aimed at facilitating and promoting trade, investment and production in EAC. The EAC supports the project as it directly links into the regional initiatives.”

And Mr. Malcolm McKinnon, Chief Executive of SITPRO noted;

“From work carried out by SITPRO in recent years with the business community in East Africa, customs modernization is seen as a key priority that will contribute to economic development and make the region’s trade more competitive. Businesses in the region place particular importance on fast track clearance procedures for trusted traders. The decision to press ahead with implementation of a common AEO model is a vitally important step forward.”

For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Allen Kagina, Commissioner General URA, Chairman of the WCO EAC project, telephone: +256 77 2792543 or e-mail: akagina@ura.go.ug

Mrs. Sheena Namitala Ntege, Regional Project Manager, telephone: +256 77 2428448 or e-mail: hnamitala@ura.go.ug

Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, Director Customs, East African Community, telephone: +255 27 250 4253/8 or e-mail:bagamuhunda@eachq.org

Mr.Paul Hiscock, Head of Communications, SITPRO, telephone: +44 20 7215 8158 or e-mail: paul.hiscock@sitpro.org.uk

Mr. John Bisonga, Head of the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building in the East and Southern Africa region, telephone: +254 723467018 or e-mail: john.bisonga@wcoesarocb.org

Notes for editors

The East African Community Customs modernization project is the first programme to be sponsored from the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA) contribution to the World Customs Organization (WCO) Columbus Programme. The project is guided by a Steering Committee comprised of the EAC Heads of Customs, the EAC Secretariat, the Regional Project Manager (RPM), the Head of the WCO Regional Office for Capacity Building for the East and Southern Africa region, the WCO secretariat and SITPRO (representing the interests of the business community).