Lesotho - RSA Customs Collaboration
Project disclaimer
Description
As articulated in Lesotho's most recent Country Economic Memorandum, inefficient customs procedures and processes on Lesotho's borders with South Africa hamper the diversification of its exports and serve as an impediment to attracting new FDI. A critical deficiency remains in the ICT capacity of the LRA and in particular the urgent requirement to establish a computerized Single Window and customs clearance system. The current infrastructure at Maseru Bridge and Maputsoe Bridge could be used to process customs applications from both agencies (one stop border). This would substantially reduce duplication of customs procedures on both sides of the border; improve the consistency of processes and reduce infrastructure constraints that are leading to blockages particularly on the South African side where there is very little parking for trucks, and often no space to unload cargo for inspection. By using the existing facilities on both sides of the border for inspection and release, delays associated with sending consignments inland to the state warehouses for these activities would therefore be eliminated. OBJECTIVE: Establishing a simple information exchange facility that would allow export declarations processed on one side of the border to be used as the import declaration on the other side thus reducing processing time, administrative errors, and improving operational efficiency and quality of trade statistics. Development of a comprehensive trade information portal that will provide cross border traders with a one stop shop for obtaining up-to-date information on trade requirements, regulations, approvals, licenses and fee schedules. Design, development and implementation of a Business Change Management program for the new operating environment incorporating joint controls and a common IT platform. This will include joint controls operating model, policies and procedures, aligned processes, staff training, trader education, testing and communications. First, pilot and secondly permanent common targeting and inspection hub (single inspection for both sides of the border).
Location
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Status Completion
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Programme Spend
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Participating Organisation(s)
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- Multi Donor Trust Fund for the Trade Facilitation Facility
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Budget
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