Harare, (New Ziana) – The Southern African Development
Community (SADC) will on Friday launch the report of the Time Release
Study (TRS) along the SADC Regional North-South Trade Corridor.
The TRS is an international model instrument employed to assess the time
taken for goods transactions and their clearance across the supply
chain.
In the SADC region, the TRS along the North-South Corridor represents
the first comprehensive study of this strategic route, evaluating
efficiency in the clearance of goods at major sea ports and border
posts.
In a statement, the regional body said the launch of the report, to be
held in Harare, is with support from the European Union (EU) under the
Trade Facilitation Program (TFP).
The SADC Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration
endorsed the TFP in March 2016 with the aim of strengthen the Free Trade
Area in accordance with the SADC Treaty, the Protocol on Trade, and
other related policy documents.
The SADC Secretariat coordinated the study, which commenced at the
Durban port and extended to the Kasumbalesa Border Post in Zambia,
passing through the Beitbridge Border Post and the Chirundu One Stop
Border Post.
The TRS assesses the cost of doing business at key entry points such as
border ports, seaports, and road infrastructure. It was conducted by
customs and trade experts in collaboration with various supply chain
stakeholders. It utilised the World Customs Organisation’s electronic
system methodology, involving port and border agencies from South
Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and
was validated by experts from SADC Member States in March 2024 with
various recommendations.
“If effectively implemented, these recommendations are expected to
enhance the ease of doing business within the region,” said the regional
body.
SADC is an organisation of 16 member states established in 1980 as the
Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC) and
transformed to the Southern African Development Community in August
1992.
Its mission is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and
socio-economic development through efficient, productive systems, deeper
cooperation and integration, good governance and durable peace and
security so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective
player in international relations and the world economy.
Member states include Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of
Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
New Ziana
