Exporter briefings will address EME problems

The more than 50 exporters that have taken part in the test run for the new electronic monitoring and matching of exports (EME) system have highlighted a major challenge. The prime problem for the exporters, their bankers, freight agents and the customs authorities, according to Tom Coetzee, SA Reserve Bank (SARB) GM in charge of the programme, has been the correct configuration of the unique consignment reference (UCR) number on the various systems used for reporting transactions. “Any variation in the UCR,” he told FTW, “be it a space between characters or just plain finger trouble when capturing the number, will result in the transactions not being able to be matched by the SARB.” To illustrate this problem, the bank’s exchange control department are hosting briefings with exporters in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban during April and May. Interested exporters can contact Tom Coetzee at 012‑313 3537 or via email at tom.coetzee@resbank.co.za for details.