SACU member states agree on shared AEO

SHARING COMPLIANCE AND SECURITY

The member states of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) – Namibia, South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana – have signed a mutual recognition arrangement under which they accept each other’s Authorised Economic Operators (AEO). The AEO is a flagship customs business partnership programme that offers an opportunity for customs authorities to share compliance and security responsibilities with the private sector, and at the same time reward them with several trade facilitation benefits such as:

• Improved administrative efficiencies

• Reduction of time and cost associated with crossborder trade

• Improved compliance and security of the supply chain

• Enhanced competitiveness of accredited firms

CONNECTING AFRICA TO GLOBAL TRADE NETWORKS

“Now that the AEO programme has been mutually recognised by SACU, these benefits can extend to compliant and accredited businesses, to operate seamlessly across borders between SACU member states. This is a VIP system for trade in the region that can assist in developing the region”, said the Executive Secretary of SACU, Thabo Khasipe.

Engaging the private sector in Namibia in March, Khasipe called on the Namibian business community to take advantage of this unique programme and apply for accreditation to maximise on the identified benefits. “While we will be rolling out this programme within SACU, our ambition is to see it implemented beyond the SACU region where we intend to enter into Mutual Recognition Arrangements with other regional blocs”, he added.

The SACU Commissioners General are committed to significantly reducing the stubborn residue of poverty, inequality and unemployment among the people in the region and beyond. The AEO programme is expected to contribute toward the vision of further deepening Africa’s connectivity to global trade networks to leverage opportunities for economic development presented by such integration.

ABOUT AEO

An Authorised Economic Operator is a company involved in the international movement of goods and approved by SARS’s Customs division as compliant with the standards of the World Customs Organisation, or equivalent compliance and supply chain security standards. AEOs may include manufacturers, importers, exporters, brokers, carriers, consolidators, intermediaries, ports, airports, terminal operators, integrated operators, warehouses, distributors and freight forwarders.

Maggie Forcelledo Paz