World Bank study looks at Swazi border efficiency

MBABANE – To speed passage of goods across the SA/Swaziland border, the World Bank Time Release Study (TRS) Project is in talks with Sars and the Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA) on the introduction of one-stop border posts, infrastructure improvements, joint nations control over operations and enhanced data sharing. “The collaboration between Sars and SRA is aimed at strengthening and streamlining the custom systems to lower trade transaction costs for shippers as well as to enhance the performance of border post operations,” said TRS project coordinator Shandu George Mamaila. Mamaila is in Swaziland to conduct a TRS at the country’s key border posts next week, which is considered a necessary first step to identify border crossing problems and prescribe remedies. “A TRS has never been conducted in Swaziland, so there is no other systematic measurement of clearance times, which leaves no precise way to gauge the extent of the problem (of slow passage of goods) nor to measure the impact of trade facilitation initiatives or border post improvements,” Mamaila said.