On 01 September the Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) held an inauguration ceremony to announce the official launch of a national electronic tariff platform. At the invitation of the SRA Commissioner General, the event was virtually attended by the World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Executive Secretary and senior policy makers and managers from the SACU Member States. The ceremony was held in Mbabane, Eswatini where the Minister of Trade, the Minister of Finance, Co-Chairs and Members of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, representatives of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Eswatini and a wide audience of Customs officers and private sector stakeholders were present.
In his opening remarks it was mentioned that Eswatini had ratified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) as early as 2017 and was committed to the full implementation of the standards enshrined therein. It was stressed that the online tariff platform would complement that important endeavour, emphasising the particular relevance of online tools for the ongoing digitalisation of Customs processes.
In conclusion of the ceremony, various aspects of the functioning of the new electronic tariff platform were presented to the participants.
Story by: Riaan de Lange