On 29 July 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) advised that the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), with its support, had successfully concluded a nationwide series of stakeholder engagement sessions in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Katima Mulilo, and the Trans Kalahari region to introduce its newly launched Electronic Advance Ruling (e-AR) platform for classification, valuation, and origin. The e-AR platform, officially launched on 07 November 2024, aims to streamline customs procedures and enhance trade facilitation in Namibia.
As part of its broader change management strategy, NamRA conducted the awareness sessions with technical and financial support from the WCO under the European Union (EU)-funded Harmonized System (HS) and Rules of Origin (RoO) Africa programmes. The e-AR system is a fully digital solution designed to provide faster, more transparent, and more predictable advance rulings to traders and clearing agents. A total of 132 participants attended the sessions, including customs officials, clearing agents, businesses, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
The NamRA’s manager for customs valuation and classification described the e-AR system as a key milestone in the agency’s trade modernisation agenda. He urged traders and importers to actively utilise the platform to benefit from expedited and more reliable customs decisions.
During the Windhoek session, a logistics company praised the initiative, noting that clearing agents often faced delays and classification disputes. She emphasised that the e-AR platform would bring much-needed clarity and predictability to customs procedures.
The stakeholder sessions were marked by active engagement, with participants expressing strong appreciation for the opportunity to interact directly with NamRA officials and gain hands-on knowledge of the new system. Many acknowledged the practical benefits of advance rulings, particularly in enhancing certainty for regularly traded goods and strengthening trust between customs and the trading community.
NamRA’s implementation of the e-AR platform marks a significant step in Namibia’s digital transformation of its customs operations. The system enhances transparency, strengthens compliance, and streamlines trade processes – contributing to a more efficient and accountable customs environment. Looking ahead, NamRA plans to extend its outreach efforts by conducting additional awareness and capacity-building sessions across the remaining regions. The agency reaffirmed that electronic advance rulings were not only a compliance tool but also a critical enabler of trade facilitation, in line with NamRA’s commitment to “Serving with Passion.”