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.