BY DELISA THWALA
LOZITHA – Minister of Finance and SACU Chairperson Council Neal Rijkenberg read and delivered the 8th SACU Summit Communique.
A communique is an official message that is sent between people or to a media outlet
Neal in his Communique highlighted that the 8th Summit of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Heads of State or Government took place on June 29, 2023, in Mandvulo, Kingdom of Eswatini.
He further mentioned that, His Majesty King Mswati III chaired the Summit, attended by His Excellency Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa; the Right Honourable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho; the Right Honourable Dr Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia representing His Excellency Dr Hage Gottfried Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia; and Honourable Mmusi Kgafela, Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Botswana representing His Excellency Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana.
“ The Summit warmly welcomed and congratulated Mr. Thabo David Khasipe on his appointment as the Executive Secretary of SACU. The Summit acknowledged the global developments that have had a significant impact on the economies of SACU Member States,”
“ These include the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has led to global economic consequences and geopolitical divisions. The economic consequences of this conflict include supply chain disruptions and instability in the food and energy markets, resulting in a pessimistic global economic outlook for 2023,”, he said.
Further highlighting, he said the Summit emphasised the importance of continued close collaboration among SACU Member States to address the economic challenges arising from these global developments.
Worth noting is that, the Summit commended the Council on the progress made in implementing the SACU Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Council and endorsed by the Summit in June 2022.
The Plan was based on pillars like Industrialisation, focusing on regional value chains, investment attraction, and export promotion.
Others included Trade Facilitation and Logistics, Implementation and leveraging of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Unified engagement with third parties Finance and Resource Mobilisation; and Effectiveness of SACU institutions.
Minister Finance said , in the area of the trade Facilitation and logistics Programme, which includes customs cooperation, border coordination, behind-the-border measures, transport and logistics, support for trade agreements,and cross-cutting policy imperatives, the Summit noted the completion of an Operational Plan to guide its implementation.
“ The Plan outlines the scope of work for the Trade Digitalisation and Digital Transformation Project, Risk Management, Compliance and Enforcement Project, and Infrastructure Development Project. Notable achievements under Customs Cooperation include the interconnectivity of Customs IT Management Systems and the implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator Programme with 176 authorised economic operators,” he said.
The Summit noted that the Council held a Ministerial Retreat on the 27th June 2023, to discuss key policy and strategic matters aimed at strengthening the governance and effectiveness of SACU institutions to ensure the successful implementation of the SACU Strategic Plan.
The Summit also noted the expiry of AGOA in 2025 and called for the extension of AGOA for the current beneficiary countries.The Summit congratulated Professor Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on his appointment as the Chair of the World Customs Organisation (WCO).
The Summit further noted that the Kingdom of Lesotho will assume the Chairmanship of SACU from July 15, 2023 to July 14, 2024, succeeding the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The Summit commended His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini for his exceptional leadership and guidance during his term as the Chair of SACU. Likewise, the Summit congratulated the Right Honourable Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane on assuming the Chairmanship of SACU from 15th July 2023.
