On July 30, 2013 the dti issued a media release following Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies’, briefing of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, in Cape Town, regarding the progress on the implementation of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Five-Point Plan. Minister Davies indicated that this is a work programme which was approved by the 2nd SACU Summit convened by President Zuma in 2011 premised on the following pillars, namely: (i) work programme on cross-border industrial development; (ii) trade facilitation; (iii) development of SACU institutions; (iv) unified engagement in trade negotiations; and (v) the review of the revenue sharing arrangement. The Five-Point Plan emerged from realisation by SACU Member States of a need to move SACU beyond an arrangement held together only by the common external tariffs and the revenue sharing arrangement to an integration project that promotes real economy development in the region. According to Minister Davies, despite the good intentions embedded in the SACU Agreement, there still remain challenges on how to advance this work programme. Minister Davies noted that progress on the implementation of pillars of the five- point plan was uneven. SACU has registered good progress on trade facilitation and there is greater unity of purpose in negotiations with third parties, namely the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), the SACU-India, and the Tripartite Free Trade Area (T-FTA). According to Minister Davies there is however limited progress on the review of the revenue sharing arrangement and hence lack of adequate financial support for the implementation of cross-border industrial and infrastructure development projects. There is also lack of progress on the development of SACU institutions as a result of divergences in policy perspectives and priorities of Member States. Enabling provisions provide for the establishment of National Bodies and a SACU Tariff Board. The SACU Tariff Board will make recommendations to the Council on tariffs and trade remedies. Minister Davies added that, until these institutions are established, functions are delegated to Itac in SA. Minister Davies emphasised the development of a common approach on trade and industrial policy as the prerequisite for establishing effective SACU institutions in future. According to Minister Davies “Progress across all five pillars of the 5-point SACU plan remains an important option to advance development integration in SACU”. He highlighted that a discussion on appropriate decision-making procedures on sensitive trade and industry matters that takes into account SACU-wide impacts is required.