Exporters resist SARB call to join electronic pilot project

The plea from the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) for more exporters to join in on phase two of the electronic monitoring and matching of exports (EME) pilot project appears to have fallen on deaf ears, according to Reserve Bank senior manager Queen Mogane, who heads up the project. This follows a call at the recent meeting between SARB and the members of the Johannesburg chapter of the Exporters’ Club of SA, where Mogane stressed that the computer-based system was aimed at phasing out the tedious, manually-prepared Form 178. She expressed her surprise that this had not tempted more exporters to participate in EME – a project, she told FTW, that had benefits for the exporter. But her plea at the Exporters’ Club meeting has resulted in no further contact from exporters, although, she told FTW, “it normally takes some time for the applications to get to us”. This because, to take part in the scheme, exporters need to enter into an agreement with the SARB, said Mogane. “A signed copy of this agreement between the exporter and the bank must be submitted to the bank via the authorised dealer (usually the commercial banks) with other documentation.” In early meetings with a select number of exporters, where she had hinted at the nature of the project, Mogane said that “they all said they’d be delighted to see the back of the Form 178”. “It not only allows for a more streamlined process, but sees the entire process being simplified and computerised and it is part of the initiative to do away with paper-based and manual forms.” The new system replaces the old Form 178 – the means now of matching the physical flow of export goods with the flow of export proceeds or receipts coming into SA. But Mogane thinks that there is some resistance on the part of exporters, with the suspicion that the critical “unique consignment reference (UCR)” number is the reason. “Many exporters,” she said, “have been hesitant to apply for the project as they are struggling with the UCR number and therefore have not wanted to participate.” But she agreed with FTW’s suggestion that clear communication was essential if exporters were to be alerted to the EME concept, how it will work, and what its benefits were. As part of this “closing of the information gap”, Mogane also agreed with FTW to immediately extend her EME workshop programme to Durban. The scheme was welcomed by Mike Peddle who runs the Durban chapter of the Exporters’ Club – and who stressed that information on such a scheme was vital to forward planning by exporters. He also told FTW that an approach would be made to all the chapter’s members, and the date of the workshop revealed as soon as everything could be organised.