The World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) secretariat have agreed to develop an Information Technology (IT) connectivity roadmap.
During a meeting of SADC customs heads recently, 11 SADC countries discussed the proposed project’s scope, identified its intended results and activities, and agreed on its governance structure.
The project will focus on developing the regional connectivity framework as well as rolling it out across key SADC corridors, including the North-South Corridor. Its aim is to facilitate data exchange based on the WCO’s Globally Networked Customs concept – a standardised way for customs authorities to exchange information – and data model.
According to the WCO, the IT connectivity framework will build on achievements recorded and lessons learned in the IT connectivity area by the South African Revenue Service and the Swaziland Revenue Authority.
Additionally, the SADC customs heads called on the WCO to engage with the donor community in order to mobilise the funding required for implementing the proposed project.