Developing a list of priority areas for improvements in customs, with an aim to transform customs administrations in the region in the 21st century, was the goal when SITPRO and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) brought together some of the key players in East Africa this September. Over just three days, in a display of dynamism, vitality and political will which seems to characterise the region these days, a group of East African Customs Commissioners produced a thematic list of priorities which not only recognised the gaps that existed but more importantly mapped out in some considerable detail what the possible remedial steps could or should be.
This was not a meeting about theory and rhetoric as the commissioners were determined to get a roadmap that was workable and could be implemented. The meeting, hosted by Tanzanian Customs also aimed at examining ways the private sector could play a partnership role in this transformation. Towards this end, SITPRO arranged the attendance of representatives from the Business Action for Improving Customs Administration in Africa (BAFICAA) taskforces, the EAC secretariat, East African Business Council and doners and will help them to fashion the business role in more concrete terms.
A follow up workshop is being planned for early November where a regional approach to the development of Customs in the region in general and the development of an AEO programme in particular will be discussed.
Return to SITPRO News: Issue 62, Autumn 2007
