Automated System for Customs Data and Management and EUROTRACE
Project / Program Summary
I. Basic data
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II. Project / program description
- Objectives
The objective of the project is simplification, streamlining and harmonisation of customs and statistics procedures, rules, regulations, legislation and documents as well as customs data capture, coding and accounting through computerizations of the operations. It is therefore, to reform and modernise the management, operations and administration of the Bureau of Customs and External Trade Statistics in order to speed up the Customs clearance of goods and improve the compilation, analysis and publication of reliable, speedy and accurate and harmonised external trade statistics at regional level. The other objective is to improve the collection of government revenue, facilitate intra and extra COMESA trade, reduce fraud and improve the control of dangerous substances imports.
Asycuda has been installed in 12 out of 21 member States namely Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Madagascar, Namibia, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo Kinshasa, Comoros, Sudan. It is under implementation in Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania while Kenya, Botswana and Swaziland have just requested for Asycuda. Eurotrace has been installed in 16 countries namely Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Zambia, Congo Kinshasa, Rwanda, Malawi and Burundi. - Activities / contents
- Computerization of customs and External Trade Statistics Administrations and Reform and Modernize their operations;
- Simplification streamlining and harmonisation of documents, procedure, rules, legislation, accounting and coding systems;
- Facilitate the speedy clearance of goods;
- Facilitate the compilation, analysis and publication of accurate and reliable customs statistics;
- Train customs and statistics staff in the operation and maintenance of the computer system;
- Sensitise all stake holders on the advantages and application of the system.
- Promote close cooperation between all customs and statistics administration to ensure harmony and efficiency of all the customs and statistics of member States and integrate their practices.
- Expected outcomes / impacts
- Speed up the clearance of goods in order to promote intra and extra COMESA trade
- Facilitate the integration of the COMESA Trade in the world economy
- Improve the collection of Government revenue and the production of accurate and reliable customs data and External Trade Statistics in order to facilitate enlightened policy formulation and improve the management and development of the economies.
- Promote intra and extra COMESA trade through the reduction of the cost of administration of customs and external trade statistics as well as the reduction of transaction costs to business communities in their import and export trade.
- Reform and modernise the Bureau of customs and external trade statistics to achieve international standards set out by the World Customs Organisation in the facilitation of the international trade.
- Features in line with the Agenda for Action
The Agenda for action requires African countries to reform State institutions to operate efficiently with transparency and professionalism. Accordingly, this project would help to modernize Customs Administration and Statistics Offices thereby facilitating trade and investment in the COMESA region.
III. Contact point:
COMESA Secretariat
P.O. Box 30051, Lusaka, ZAMBIA
Fax: 260-1-225107
E-Mail: comesa@comesa.int
COMESA website: http/www/comesa.int
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