CALL TO SIMPLIFY CUSTOMS PROCEDURES

MBABANE - Simplifying customs procedures and implementing transparent and efficient trade facilitation measures could expedite the movement of goods across borders.

This was the submission of the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo,  during the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) Ministerial Meeting on Trade held in the margins of the 13th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre yesterday. The meeting was convened under the theme “Unlocking opportunities for LLDCs in global trade. The role of the Multilateral System.”

Challenges

Khumalo stated that Eswatini was not spared from the development challenges linked to landlockedness, which among others include lack of access to the sea, remoteness from major markets, additional border crossings, high trade transaction costs and dependency to transit countries. “As we think of possible ways of how our country can unlock the opportunities in global trade at the multilateral level, one cannot neglect the role of trade facilitation,” he said. The minister was accompanied by the Principal Secretary (PS) Siboniso Nkambule and Director of Trade Lungile Dlamini. He said LLDCs can also benefit from adopting modern customs practices and technologies to streamline trade processes. He said investment in infrastructure development was also key.

Khumalo mentioned that improved infrastructure, such as transport and logistics networks, was crucial for LLDCs as means to connect with international markets. He said investments in roads, railways, ports and customs infrastructure could reduce transportation costs and transit times, making exports more competitive. He added that one of the key priorities for the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) is regional integration and cooperation. He said a regional approach in addressing our challenges could serve as a solution to the challenges faced.
“I therefore call for Regional Economic Communities to develop regional infrastructure projects in order for our goods and services to move across without any hurdles,” he said. The minister said LLDCs should also take advantage of the platform provided by the multilateral trading system, governed by the WTO which plays a crucial role in facilitating global trade and ensuring a level playing field for all members, including LLDCs and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS).

Strategies

He said it was therefore his belief that by implementing these strategies and those that were yet to be presented by other colleagues and relevant stakeholders they can indeed unlock opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development through increased participation in global trade. The minister highlighted that as they were preparing for the Ministerial Conference and the upcoming Third UN Conference on LLDCs to be held this year, in Kigali Rwanda, they needed to reflect on the work done and achievements of the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) which was adopted by the United Nations in 2014, to promote the sustainable development of LLDCs. He said the aim of the VPoA was to address the unique challenges faced by LLDCs, such as high transportation costs, limited access to global markets and the need for infrastructure development.

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