Namibia will launch their Customs to Business Forum launch in 2013.
(Pre preparations ha ve been made)
Regular consultations take place in Zimbabwe
Regional level
3.2
Ad hoc Consultations
3.2.1 The lack of donor funding to support regional events and meetings does not
mean that the private sector is not engaged with the SADC Secretariat.
Regional sector or industry bodies engage directly with SADC Secretariat on
identified issues or through technical committees. For instance, the SADC
Customs Unit involved the private sector in the review of the rules of origin in
textiles and clothing and the review of the SADC Regional Customs Bond
Guarantee system. The private sector has been part of the working groups for
both issues. The SADC Customs Unit intends to present the functional
specification, design and demonstration of the COMESA-SADC Transit
Management Information System to the private sector prior to its pilot and
eventual implementation. Furthermore, not all national BMOs that engage
directly with the SADC Secretariat participate in the formal dialogue at the
national levels. There could be simple ways to enhance or widen this
engagement between the private sector and the SADC Customs Programme.
4.0
4.1
Private sector involvement strategy
Based on the conclusion of the assessment the involvement of the private
sector with regards to customs issues can be addressed in future by the
SADC Customs Unit under three Key Result Areas:
Strengthen Customs to Business dialogue mechanisms at the Member
States level (KRA 1)
Enhance the quality of Customs Administration to Business dialogue
through improving information flows (KRA 2) and
Strengthening Private Sector involvement on customs issues at the
regional level (KRA 3)
4.2
Each of the key result areas will now be discussed in more detail. First the
desired outcome of how the system should work once the strategy is
successfully implemented will be described. This will be followed by the main
activities that must be implemented and the resource implications.
5.0
Strengthening Customs to Business dialogue mechanisms at the
Member States level (KRA 1)
4