WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building

𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖 4th September 2024   In line with the decision made by the 30th ESA Region Governing Council to develop a new Regional Strategy for 2025-2028, the Regional Strategy Working Group was reconstituted to lead this initiative. The group includes members with expertise in strategy development and a deep understanding of regional and global Customs issues. The group met today for the first time, to discuss the roadmap towards drafting the new strategy. South Africa was elected as the Chairperson and will be represented by Mr. Coffet Lebepe, while Malawi was elected as Vice Chair, represented by Mr. Innocent Bamusi.   While our Regional Strategy will be tailored to the specific needs of the ESA region, it will also be aligned with the global WCO Strategy to ensure synergy and coherence between the two strategies. The draft Regional Strategy will be reviewed in subsequent Regional Strategy Group meetings before being presented for adoption at the next Governing Council in May 2025. #NewESAStrategy #RegionalStrategyWorkingGroup #ESA #Customs #TradeFacilitation Coffet Lebepe Faith Mosongo Clemence Wawuda Jamilah Mutah Linda Siele Gumani Mugeri Joab Omole Miti Mupishi Mupishi Kelly Miti Julio Sabu Anisa McPatie Zizela Mawete Aroona Mugon Mathieu Loridan Thabile Ntombela Sudhir Dey Ancharaz Pauline Denhere Wisani Prince Dzivhani Atanasio Buque Atbuque www.wcoesarocb.org

Today, l had the pleasure of hosting the 21st World Customs Organization Regional Office Liaison Office #RILO East and Southern Africa Annual National Contact Points Meeting as both Events Manager and Director of Ceremonies (Emcee) under Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Official. Officially opening the event was Zimbabwe Customsʼ Head of Compliance, Adrian Swarres representing Commissioner General Regina Chinamasa. Remarks by WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building Director Larry Liza were done virtually and also in attendance World Customs Organization #CEN Programmes Manager, Ousmane Coundoul and @RILO Western Europe. The ongoing event is aimed at sharing customs information in the #CEN and #nCEN platforms as a way of combatting illicit transit trade within the #ESA region. The 21st Annual RILO ESA meeting is the 6th since Zimbabwe started hosting the RILO ESA office under the headship of Sitheni Ncube. Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Official has been continuously implementing strategies and projects to improve border management and subsequently enhance trade facilitation, including use of drone surveillance system, scanners and the recently upgraded and modernised Beitbridge Border Post. Malawi Revenue Authority Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) KRA(KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY) Revenue Services Lesotho Botswana Unified Revenue Service South African Revenue Service (SARS) HM Revenue & Customs Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)

Advanced Level Rules of Origin Sub-Regional Workshop commenced yesterday, 26th August 2024, in Mombasa, Kenya. The one-week workshop has been organised by EU-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme in collaboration with Regional Training Center Kenya and the WCO East and Southern Africa Regional Office for Capacity Building to equip Customs officials from Angola, Kenya, Mozambique and Seychelles with in-depth knowledge and practical skills in application of preferential rules of origin. Considering the pertinent role of rules of origin in international trade, the expected training outcome is enhanced trade facilitation and revenue protection in the beneficiary countries. #RulesofOrigin #RoO #EUWCORulesofOriginProgramme #Angola #Kenya KRA(KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY) #Mozambique #Seychelles #WCOESAROCB #RTCKenya Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) Faith Mathenge (CPA K)

Virtual Reality-Assisted Training Program for Kenya Customs 23rd August 2024, Nairobi, Kenya The WCO ESA ROCB had the privilege of hosting Kenya Customs for an immersive training session using cutting-edge virtual reality technology. Participants from Kenya Customs engaged with the Maritime Customs Clearance and Air Cargo Clearance modules through the VR Training Kiosk, experiencing a 3D simulation of essential customs functions and procedures. The program also provided an overview of the WCO’s roles at the national, regional, and global levels. This advanced training module offers a range of sophisticated features, including pre-arrival automatic targeting, declaration clearance, X-ray screening/image analysis, and physical inspections. These tools are designed to enhance the detection and prevention of undervaluation, false declarations, intellectual property infringements, and the smuggling of narcotics, foreign currency, firearms, and other prohibited items. The VRT program is a collaborative initiative between WCO Headquarters in Brussels, RTC Korea, Korea Customs Service, CCF-Korea, and HO Entertainment. KRA(KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY) #KenyaCustoms #KenyaRevenueAuthority #AirCargoClearance #MaritimeCargoClearance #MCC #ACC #VirtualReality #VR #Customs #WCO #WCOESAROCB #KoreaCustomsService #RTCKorea #CCFKorea #HOEntertainment www.wcoesarocb.org

ESA Integrity Virtual Working Group 21st August 2024 Today, the Integrity Virtual Working Group (VWG) convened under the leadership of Mauritius, chaired by Mr. Rajeev Gobin. The meeting focused on the Regional Code of Conduct which was adopted by the Governing Council, where members engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the roadmap to achieve their objectives, including the implementation process and the assignment of roles to the WCO ESA ROCB, VWG leaders, Integrity Champions, and Integrity Coordinators. #Integrity #CodeofConduct #Implementation #Ratified #ActionPlan #RoadMap www.wcoesarocb.org

Supporting Green Customs in the ESA Region 20th August 2024, Nairobi, Kenya. The WCO ESA ROCB Director, Mr. Larry Liza, hosted a delegation from the Regional Training Centre (RTC) Kenya represented by Ms. Alice Kananu and Mr. Charles Ngugi, to map a way forward in supporting Green Customs in the ESA Region. Also present in the meeting were Ms. Faith Mosongo, Ms. Clemence Wawuda and Ms. Linda Siele from the ROCB. The meeting discussed the measures that Customs administrations can take or develop to reduce their environmental footprint, to protect the environment and facilitate green trade, to test transformative ideas towards sustainability excellence and by doing so drive progress on the related United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It further stressed the importance of generating environmental benefits through digitalization and paperless procedures, enforcing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and domestic environment-related regulations, and implementing trade facilitation measures for environmentally friendly goods which are the most common components of the definition of Green Customs. The meeting further discussed possible areas of collaboration between the ROCB and RTC Kenya in delivering sustainable capacity building in the region in line with the objectives of the regional strategy. It was agreed that RTC Kenya will roll out the Green Customs programme to the region having piloted the same among the four RTCs, this will initially be done virtually as we engage potential development partners towards accessing possible funding for a physical engagement. RTC Kenya was further encouraged to leverage on micro learning and explore the possibility of having online modules to create awareness of Green Customs. It was also proposed that a Training of Trainers programme on Green Customs be rolled out to support the sustainability of the initiative at both national and regional levels. The meeting agreed that its crucial to involve Partner Government Agencies (PGAs), development partners, the private sector and all relevant stakeholders in these engagements. #GreenCustoms #RTCKenya Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA) #Enviroment #Sustainability #GreenTrade #Digitalization #CapacityBuilding #Customs Larry Liza www.wcoesarocb.org

Sensitization of ESA NCPs on the Utilization of WCO Trade Tools 14th August 2024 The EU-WCO HS Africa Programme recently held a training session for National Contact Points (NCPs) from East and Southern Africa (ESA), providing valuable knowledge and skills on the utilisation of WCO Trade Tools platform (www.wcotradetools.org). This powerful tool will support Customs Administrations in Tariff Classification, Customs Valuation and Rules of Origin decision making, thus facilitating trade and enhancing revenue collection. Courtesy of the programme, 24 ESA Members countries & 4 RTCs will access (exempt from charges) the WCO Trade Tools for a period of 5 years. #WCO #TradeTools #NCPs #ESA #InternationalTrade #HarmonizedSystem #RulesOfOrigin #Valuation #EUWCOHSAfricaProgramme www.wcoesarocb.org

Welcome Aboard! Introducing Our New Team Member. Help us welcome Ms. Linda Siele to the WCO ESA Regional Office for Capacity Building #WelcomeAboard #wcoesarocb www.wcoesarocb.org

Strengthening WCO ESA Members’ Engagement in the African Trade Observatory Today, the World Customs Organization - East and Southern Africa (WCO-ESA), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), hosted a webinar on the African Trade Observatory (ATO). The ATO, led by the African Union and supported by the EU's financial support, is key for providing trade intelligence that promotes regional integration and effective AfCFTA implementation. The webinar was opened by Mr. Mondher Mimouni, Director, Division of Market Development, International Trade Centre and Mr. Larry Liza, Director, World Customs Organization, East & Southern Africa, Regional Office for Capacity Building. With participation from over 104 customs officials representing 21 Members, the session highlighted the essential role of customs in managing and analyzing data to boost trade across Africa. The ATO, one of the AfCFTA’s five operational instruments, enhances trade information to support evidence-based decision-making across the continent. It equips policymakers and government officials, including Customs Authorities, to oversee regional trade integration and assess AfCFTA’s impact. Thirty-four AU members have joined this initiative, with ESA members actively supporting AfCFTA and regional integration. AfricanUnion #AUC International Trade Centre #ITC European Union #EU African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat #AfCFTA #AfricaTradeObservatory #ATO #ESA Larry Liza www.wcoesarocb.org

Sensitization of ESA NCPs on the Utilization of WCO Trade Tools 14th August 2024 The EU-WCO HS Africa Programme recently held a training session for National Contact Points (NCPs) from East and Southern Africa (ESA), providing valuable knowledge and skills on the utilisation of WCO Trade Tools platform (www.wcotradetools.org). This powerful tool will support Customs Administrations in Tariff Classification, Customs Valuation and Rules of Origin decision making, thus facilitating trade and enhancing revenue collection. Courtesy of the programme, 24 ESA Members countries & 4 RTCs will access (exempt from charges) the WCO Trade Tools for a period of 5 years. #WCO #TradeTools #NCPs #ESA #InternationalTrade #HarmonizedSystem #RulesOfOrigin #Valuation #EUWCOHSAfricaProgramme www.wcoesarocb.org