National Level
3.1
Establishment of Customs to Business Fora
3.1.1
The SADC Customs Unit has supported the establishment of customs to
business fora in Member States mainly based on the NCBF guidelines. It has
developed guidelines on how to establish a national customs to business
forum (NCBF) to assist Member States with a formal dialogue platform with
the private sector (SADC, 2009).
3.1.2
However, not all Member States followed the SADC NCBF guidelines or
required direct support from the SADC Customs Unit. For instance South
Africa and Mauritius have other private sector dialogue mechanisms in place
that pre-dates the finalisation of the guidelines. In some countries that have
followed the NCBF Guidelines there are often complementary formal and
informal communication channels between industry associations with a
sectoral interest and Customs Administrations that should also be recognised
as formal dialogue mechanisms in order to increase transparency and the
ability to monitor implementation of decisions.
3.1.3
As at March 2013 the following 9 SADC members already established formal
or regular dialogue between their customs or revenue authorities and the
private sector:
3.1.4
Botswana (BF),
DRC (NCBF),
Lesotho (LRA PF),
Mauritius,
Malawi (NCBF in Sep 2012),
Mozambique ,
South Africa (BF) ,
Swaziland (NCBF),
Tanzania (BF),
Zambia (NCBF in April 2013)
Several other Member States have already taken steps to formalize or
improve their dialogue with the private sector through sensitizing workshops
and establishing interim committees to oversee the launching of Customs to
Business Fora:
Angola had informed that they have regular consultation with Private
Sector
3