PART G SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES ARTICLE 31 Freeports 1. The Partner States may provide for the establishment of freeports for the purpose of facilitating and promoting international trade and accelerating development within the Customs Union. 2. The functions of the freeports shall include the following: (a) promotion and facilitation of trade in goods imported into freeports; (b) provision of facilities relating to freeports including storage, warehouses and simplified customs procedures; and (c) provision for the establishment of international trade supply chain centres, where persons from within and outside the Community access and harness market opportunities and enhance competitiveness in import and export trade within the global setting. 3. Goods entering into a freeport shall be granted total relief from payment of duty and any other import levies except where the goods are removed from the freeport for home use. 4. For purposes of this Article, the Partner States may establish an authority to manage the freeports. 5. The implementation of this Article shall be in accordance with the East African Community Customs Union (Freeport Operations) Regulations, specified in Annex VIII to this Protocol. 28