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Namibia recently hosted a meeting of customs officials from 24 countries to discuss key issues facing African members of the World Customs Organization.
Last week, Namibia, through the Namibia Revenue Authority (NamRA), hosted the 39th Regional Steering Group Meeting and the 30th Council of Governors (GC) Meeting of the World Customs Organization Eastern and Southern Africa (WCO ESA) Region in Swakopmund.
The meeting became an important platform for discussing matters related to the Group’s regional strategy (2022-2025).
Key focus areas include effective implementation of trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other Free Trade Agreements (TFAs), efficient revenue mobilization and customs modernization, strengthening compliance and security through data management, addressing new working methods and ensuring the well-being of customs staff.
Namibia’s first
The Council meeting was attended by several Directors General from WCO European Bureau for Standardization member countries, including WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders, who co-chaired the meeting with Namibia’s Minister of Finance, Ipumbu Shiimi.
Shmi expressed his pleasure in hosting the conference for the first time on Namibian soil and stressed the role of Customs as the gatekeeper of society, without which society would be compromised and the country’s economic growth would be hampered.
He called on all members to partner, cooperate and collaborate.
Shimi stressed the importance of discussions to facilitate the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area and emphasized its significance for the economic development of the African continent.
The Minister also expressed pride in NamRA’s achievements and called for continued cooperation and support from international partners to further strengthen tax administration and promote regional trade and economic integration.
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