Namibia launches SADC Trade Related Facility
Nam and EU to trade better
STAFF REPORTER
The government through the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development (MISTMED), has commenced the implementation of the European Union (EU) funded Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Related Facility (TRF) Project in Namibia.
At the TRF media launch on Thursday, trade minister Tjekero Tweya said the facility is geared towards improving Namibia’s regional disposition and to enhance trade related activities with the EU, and for that reason Namibia signed the Contribution Agreement with EU/SADC as one of the 12 Member States to benefit from the SADC TRF Project.
Tweya said the TRF project is meant to strengthen the process of regional integration following the commitments undertaken by the SADC Member States under the Protocol on Trade (STP). Also, the TRF project seeks to assist with the effective implementation and monitoring of the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the view to enhance its potential benefits, particularly in terms of improved market access of Namibian goods and services to the European Union, he said.
“The successful signing of the financial agreement between the Republic of Namibia and the SADC Secretariat stipulates that a total of €2 600 000 is to be availed of which € 1 400 000 is provided under the STP window and € 1 200 000 under the EPA window,” he said.
The financial agreement and the finalisation of an operational framework for the TRF Project was signed on 24 July 2017 and 4 December 2017 respectively.
Among the specific interventions which the project will expedite under the STP window include:
-The assessment in implementing the Industrial Upgrading and Modernisation Programme (IUMP) and the identifications of its institutional redesign and financing
- The Development and Implementation of targeted programmes to enhance productivity and competitiveness of firms, including participation in regional value chains
-The improvement of MITSMED to formulate and implement industrial policy and strategies
-The development of a demand-driven approach to industrial development
-As well as the implementation of business processes of key agencies involved in the National Single Window (NSW) System.
The importance of enhancing the National Single Window is further committed under the EPA window.
The SADC TRF will assist in the enhancement of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) world systems to intersect
with the National Single Window (NSW) systems, he said.
The TRF, under the EPA window, will also support enhancing the capacity for effective implementation of the Rules of Origin. Furthermore, the TRF will interlink with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to improve the sanitary phytosanitary (SPS) environment and related standards, focusing on enhanced compliance of the competent authority on animal and plant health as well as fisheries, according to Tweya.
The government through the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development (MISTMED), has commenced the implementation of the European Union (EU) funded Southern African Development Community (SADC) Trade Related Facility (TRF) Project in Namibia.
At the TRF media launch on Thursday, trade minister Tjekero Tweya said the facility is geared towards improving Namibia’s regional disposition and to enhance trade related activities with the EU, and for that reason Namibia signed the Contribution Agreement with EU/SADC as one of the 12 Member States to benefit from the SADC TRF Project.
Tweya said the TRF project is meant to strengthen the process of regional integration following the commitments undertaken by the SADC Member States under the Protocol on Trade (STP). Also, the TRF project seeks to assist with the effective implementation and monitoring of the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the view to enhance its potential benefits, particularly in terms of improved market access of Namibian goods and services to the European Union, he said.
“The successful signing of the financial agreement between the Republic of Namibia and the SADC Secretariat stipulates that a total of €2 600 000 is to be availed of which € 1 400 000 is provided under the STP window and € 1 200 000 under the EPA window,” he said.
The financial agreement and the finalisation of an operational framework for the TRF Project was signed on 24 July 2017 and 4 December 2017 respectively.
Among the specific interventions which the project will expedite under the STP window include:
-The assessment in implementing the Industrial Upgrading and Modernisation Programme (IUMP) and the identifications of its institutional redesign and financing
- The Development and Implementation of targeted programmes to enhance productivity and competitiveness of firms, including participation in regional value chains
-The improvement of MITSMED to formulate and implement industrial policy and strategies
-The development of a demand-driven approach to industrial development
-As well as the implementation of business processes of key agencies involved in the National Single Window (NSW) System.
The importance of enhancing the National Single Window is further committed under the EPA window.
The SADC TRF will assist in the enhancement of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) world systems to intersect
with the National Single Window (NSW) systems, he said.
The TRF, under the EPA window, will also support enhancing the capacity for effective implementation of the Rules of Origin. Furthermore, the TRF will interlink with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to improve the sanitary phytosanitary (SPS) environment and related standards, focusing on enhanced compliance of the competent authority on animal and plant health as well as fisheries, according to Tweya.
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