Businesses operating in East and Southern Africa have long grappled with inefficient customs clearance processes, high compliance risks, and stagnant revenue growth. However, a transformative opportunity is emerging as the World Customs Organization (WCO) intensifies its support for regional customs modernization efforts.
Key Developments from the 36th Regional Steering Group Meeting
The 36th East and Southern Africa (ESA) Regional Steering Group (RSG) meeting, held November 23-25, 2022 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, brought together customs representatives from 13 WCO ESA member administrations. Participants from the Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB), WCO Secretariat, regional training centers, and intelligence liaison offices convened to enhance regional customs efficiency and create more favorable trade conditions.
Madagascar's Commitment to Professional Customs Development
Ernest Lainkana, Director General of Madagascar Customs, highlighted current challenges while emphasizing the critical need for continuous capacity building. He stressed that enhancing customs officers' professional competencies would directly benefit businesses and facilitate trade growth. Lainkana specifically acknowledged ROCB's contributions and WCO's regional support as vital to improving customs administration efficiency.
Ramanampanoharana Andry, Secretary General of Madagascar's Ministry of Economy and Finance, addressed the evolving challenges customs authorities face in globalization. He emphasized the necessity for customs administrations to adapt to emerging global trade issues while strengthening inter-agency cooperation to ensure fair trade, trade facilitation, and effective revenue collection.
ROCB's Strategic Capacity Building Initiatives
The meeting featured a comprehensive ROCB report detailing major accomplishments since the May 2022 RSG meeting, demonstrating progress toward implementing the ESA Regional Strategy (2022-2025). Notable achievements include:
- Effective capacity building programs covering customs valuation, rules of origin, commodity classification, and intellectual property rights protection
- Establishment of regional cooperation platforms for information sharing and experience exchange
- Customized technical assistance addressing specific modernization challenges faced by member administrations
WCO's Global Strategic Framework
The WCO Secretariat presented its Strategic Plan (2022-2025) approved by the June 2022 Council session, providing strategic direction for ESA's customs modernization. Emerging priorities included:
- Data analytics applications for enhanced risk management and trade facilitation
- Green Customs initiatives promoting environmentally sustainable trade practices
- Vulnerable borders security measures against transnational crime
Strategic Recommendations for Businesses
As ESA customs administrations undergo modernization, businesses should consider:
- Monitoring policy developments through official WCO and customs channels
- Strengthening compliance management systems
- Participating in professional training programs
- Enhancing communication with customs authorities
- Adopting technological solutions for trade process automation
Core Conference Themes with Business Implications
The RSG meeting focused on four strategic themes directly impacting commercial operations:
- Trade facilitation and regional integration measures
- Revenue mobilization and customs modernization
- Border security and compliance enforcement
- Professional development and public-private partnerships
These developments signal significant progress toward creating more efficient, transparent, and business-friendly customs environments across East and Southern Africa.