{"id":399137,"date":"2026-08-11T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/informante.web.na\/?p=399137"},"modified":"2026-08-10T18:55:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T16:55:43","slug":"sacu-expands-aeo-pilot-to-namibia-botswana-and-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/informante.web.na\/?p=399137","title":{"rendered":"SACU expands AEO pilot to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Staff Reporter<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is expanding its Regional Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) pilot to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, with officials assessing border processes ahead of the second phase’s formal launch later this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials from the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), South African Revenue Service (SARS), SACU Secretariat, AEO experts and other government agencies conducted a physical walkthrough and assessment at the Noordoewer and Vioolsdrift Border Posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The officials followed selected trucks through the end-to-end clearance process, from arrival to final release, while timing each stage to identify potential bottlenecks and assess whether the required systems, procedures, infrastructure and inter-agency coordination are in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The second phase of the pilot officially begins on 18 August and will run until March 2027, building on the first phase involving Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa, which was conducted between January and March this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pilot is intended to test the practical implementation of the regional AEO MRA under live operating conditions and assess the benefits available to accredited traders across the SACU Common Customs Area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will also evaluate cross-border recognition processes, supporting systems and procedures, identify implementation challenges and determine measures needed to strengthen cooperation between revenue administrations and other government agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full implementation of the SACU Regional AEO MRA across all member states is expected to begin in April 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The launch follows a series of operational dry-runs conducted at border points and trade corridors in the region to test systems and procedures and assess the readiness of participating authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first dry-run was conducted at the Port of Walvis Bay on 29 July, followed by exercises at the Mamuno and Buitepos Border Posts along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor on 31 July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further exercises were conducted between Botswana and South Africa at the Tlokweng and Kopfontein Border Posts on 3 and 4 August, followed by the Noordoewer-Vioolsdrift corridor on 6 and 7 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The AEO programme forms part of SACU’s Customs Modernisation Programme and is based on the World Customs Organization’s SAFE Framework of Standards, which seeks to strengthen trade facilitation and supply chain security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the regional arrangement, accredited traders are expected to benefit from expedited clearance and release of goods through risk-based processing, fewer routine inspections and priority physical inspections where necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may also benefit from flexible inspection arrangements, including inspections at an alternative approved location, as well as mutual recognition of their AEO status across SACU member states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SACU said the programme is expected to reduce border delays, improve supply chain security and increase the efficiency of cross-border trade while strengthening the competitiveness of businesses operating in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will also promote greater cooperation among revenue administrations and other government agencies through improved information sharing, coordinated risk management and streamlined border procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of the end of the first quarter of the 2026\/27 financial year, SACU had 1 070 accredited AEOs. South Africa accounted for 1 006, followed by Eswatini with 33, Lesotho with 14, Namibia with 10 and Botswana with nine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SACU has encouraged eligible businesses across the region to participate in the AEO programme and make use of the trusted-trader framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SACU Secretariat said the pilot represents an important step towards customs modernisation, trade facilitation and deeper regional integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos: Sacu Secretariat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Staff Reporter THE Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is expanding its Regional Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) pilot to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa, with officials assessing border processes ahead of the second phase’s formal launch later this month. Officials from the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), South African Revenue Service (SARS), SACU …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":399138,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-399137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSACU expands AEO pilot to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa - Informant\u00e9<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"THE Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is expanding its Regional Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Mutual Recognition Arrangement...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/informante.web.na\/?p=399137\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SACU expands AEO pilot to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa - 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