‘Importers and exporters don’t know the right procedures’

Clive Emdon IM PORTERS AND exporters are generally ignorant of mandatory procedures and laws as well as the time frames it takes to move shipments, says Toni L ee Sykes, export manager of Customs Services. “They use agents because of their knowledge and expertise,” she says, “and it’s the agent’s responsibility to educate and assist clients with the entire export process. “ Sykes says it is often challenging to find a balance between the ultra-low-rate quoted to the client and the expectation of what he is going to get for that price. “Hence honest communication is essential and miscommunication is the source of most relationships souring.” Exporters often lack an understanding of the South African V AT Act, and are resistant to compliance with the V AT laws, according to Sykes. A number also resist the need to be registered with Customs as an exporter. “Costs mount due to delays which are often a result of neither knowing the rules nor being informed properly on freight costs. Good communication is of the essence. I n Zimbabwe at the moment importers have difficulty in sourcing foreign currency to pay suppliers. By the time the supplier releases the goods for transport the shipment has become extremely urgent. “In some cases, at this point we find that neither the exporter nor the importer has taken freight costs into consideration. I f the process was set up correctly from the beginning, many of these delays could be avoided,” says Sykes.