At the invitation of the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS), the World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary General visited Mbabane, Eswatini, on 08 May 2023, to review the progress in Customs modernisation and meet with political and business leaders.
The WCO SG had a meeting with the ERS Commissioner General and his management team to review ERS priorities, explore further avenues for cooperation with the WCO, and the way forward. They identified the reactivation of the National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF) after the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, with the assistance of the WCO, both of which would improve the business environment. He also met with the Eswatini Minister of Finance, and the CEO of Business Eswatini.
During his meeting with the Eswatini Prime Minister (PM), the WCO SG talked about the importance of coordination between border-related government agencies and partnership with business, as well as the importance of promoting integrity to strengthen trust among the relevant actors along the trade supply chain, which will enhance connectivity at borders. The PM expressed his thanks for the capacity-building support given by the WCO and also raised the issue of border congestion. The WCO SG suggested enhanced collaboration with the relevant parties, using the NCTF and the WCO Time Release Study.
The WCO SG seized the opportunity to visit Ngwenya Border Post to observe how Customs functions, and he also crossed the border to meet with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) officers at Oshoek border post. He expressed satisfaction that Customs officers at the adjacent border posts of the two countries work together to reduce traffic congestion and facilitate trade.