N$130 m EU grant for SADC

TO ensure the smooth facilitation of regional integration, the European Union (EU) has donated 18 million euros (around N$130 million) to the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The financing agreement on the latest SADC-EU partnership venture was signed in Windhoek on Thursday, marking the end of a two-day SADC Consultative Conference held at a local hotel. The signing took place between the SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomao, and the Head of the EC Delegation in Botswana, Paul Malin.The agreement is related to an EU support programme to the regional bloc on customs modernisation and trade facilitation.According to a joint statement released by the parties, the purpose of the project is “to support closer regional integration and harmonisation of customs legislation and procedures, including improved transit flows and to prepare for the smooth transition to the SADC customs union by 2010″.The signing came at a time when SADC was in consultations on jointly setting up a framework of co-operation with its International Co-operating Partners, also known as ICPs.The target for a customs union for the bloc by 2010 would bring about transformation and modernisations of national customs administrations.”Support will be provided to improve the collaboration between customs administrations of the region as well as with public and private actors in the trading chain.To this end the project will provide long- and short-term technical assistance, capacity building, seminars and training as well as equipment and software,” read the statement.The signing took place between the SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomao, and the Head of the EC Delegation in Botswana, Paul Malin.The agreement is related to an EU support programme to the regional bloc on customs modernisation and trade facilitation.According to a joint statement released by the parties, the purpose of the project is “to support closer regional integration and harmonisation of customs legislation and procedures, including improved transit flows and to prepare for the smooth transition to the SADC customs union by 2010″.The signing came at a time when SADC was in consultations on jointly setting up a framework of co-operation with its International Co-operating Partners, also known as ICPs.The target for a customs union for the bloc by 2010 would bring about transformation and modernisations of national customs administrations.”Support will be provided to improve the collaboration between customs administrations of the region as well as with public and private actors in the trading chain.To this end the project will provide long- and short-term technical assistance, capacity building, seminars and training as well as equipment and software,” read the statement.