In their pursuit of regional integration and trade facilitation, SACU Member States will continue to benefit from the support of the WCO-SACU Connect Project, funded by the government of Sweden.

The WCO-SACU Connect Steering Committee met on the 10th and 11th of March 2015 in Johannesburg (South Africa) to identify regional priorities and challenges and to develop a project roadmap accordingly. Consequently, Steering Committee indicated that the project efforts will focus on IT Connectivity, Legislative Reform, Enforcement, Risk Management and the roll-out of a regional Preferred Trader Programme.

Key outcomes for 2015 include a streamlined framework for regional information exchange, adequate legal provision for regional information exchange, a Preferred Trader Programme and a defined framework for Regional Risk Management and Enforcement to safeguard the integrity of Common External Tariff (CET).

In a "first" for the project since it commenced, the SACU Secretariat Executive Secretary, Ms. Paulina Elago, participated in the Steering Committee meeting. In her remarks, Ms Elago, noted that the WCO-SACU CONNECT Project is a flagship project for the region as it contributes to the modernisation of Customs and the enhancement of trade facilitation and regional integration. The chairperson of the Steering Committee Mr Bevan Simataa, Commissioner-Customs of Namibia Revenue Authority, together with the Director for Capacity Building at the WCO Secretariat, Mr Erich Kieck, welcomed the presence of the Executive Secretary and emphasized the importance streamlining the regional trade initiatives.

For more information, please contact Mr. Dalton N. Nxumalo (WCO-SACU CONNECT Project Manager) at Dalton.Nxumalo@wcoomd.org or Dalton.Nxumalo@sacu.int