Times Of Swaziland: MOVE TO EASE BORDER CONGESTION, BOOST TRADE: ESWATINI, SA SEEK TO CUT PROCESSING TIME BY 20%

MOVE TO EASE BORDER CONGESTION, BOOST TRADE: ESWATINI, SA SEEK TO CUT PROCESSING
TIME BY 20%
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Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 07/11/2024 12:39:00


OSHOEK – In a groundbreaking move to ease border congestion and boost trade,
the Eswatini National Trade Facilitation Committee (ENTFC) have signed a Joint
Action Plan (JAP) with South Africa.
The signing ceremony took place at Ndalo Lodge, Oshoek yesterday. It is an
agreement signed by the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the South African
Revenue Service (SARS) and Eswatini through ENTFC. With the joint action plan,
the ENTFC and its partners aim to cut the border processing times by at least 20
per cent before December 2026.
It is worth noting that currently, about 300 trucks pass through Ngwenya-Oshoek
each day, with processing times averaging 2 hours and 28 minutes for imports
into Eswatini and 1 hour and 39 minutes for exports to South Africa.
The bilateral joint action plan will include commitments to enhance the existing
approach to managing the borders including the harmonisation of policy and
procedures and joint organisation of resources and structures to support
efficient movements and trade facilitation. South Africa has already signed the
JAP with the Republic of Mozambique in 2023 and significant improvements on
trade facilitation were realised.
Challenges
The joint action plan marks a significant step in strengthening trade ties
between Eswatini and South Africa by simplifying border procedures and reducing
wait times at the Ngwenya-Oshoek Border Post - the main trade corridor linking
Eswatini and South Africa. This plan, supported by the World Bank, will address
challenges at the border, making crossings smoother, faster and more secure for
both travellers and cargo. The ENTFC’s Trade Facilitation Roadmap outlines a
clear strategy to simplify and synchronise border operations through 2026.
The World Bank has been instrumental in this effort, engaging experts to assess
current practices and develop a collaborative strategy for both Eswatini and
South Africa, with the ultimate objective of developing Ngwenya-Oshoek into a
One Stop Border Post (OSBP) This new, coordinated approach is expected to
enhance the efficiency and reliability of trade across the border, reduce delays
and improve the overall experience for everyone who relies on the Ngwenya-Oshoek
Border.
The ENTFC is committed to driving economic growth through improved trade
facilitation, and this agreement with South Africa represents a significant
milestone on that path.
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade Melusi
Masuku highlighted that this has been a journey dating back to February, where
both countries had a workshop and border visit to physically assess the
operations at the two borders, Ngwenya and Oshoek. “We are grateful to the
World Bank Group for continuing to support the two countries under the Southern
African Regional Trade Facilitation Project, which aims to aid trade
facilitation reforms in the SACU region,” said Masuku.