From 17 to 18 November the African Union (AU) Commission held its 8th Ordinary Meeting of the African Union Sub-Committee of Directors General of Customs (AUSCDGC) titled “From Barriers to Bridges - Implementing One Stop Border Posts (OSBP) for Improved Trade Facilitation” in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The meeting was attended by directors general of Customs and representatives from 25 Customs administrations together with AU Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and international organisations. Discussions were brought on the African Union’s important agenda of creating a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) within the framework of Boosting Intra African Trade (BIAT) for economic growth and development on the African continent. The significance of OSBP as a concept for removing barriers to trade at border posts was therefore highlighted as a trade facilitation measure that would speed up the establishment of the CFTA.
The AUCSDGC’s meeting was preceded by a three-day Experts’ Meeting.