The European Commission has donated €18-million to Southern African countries to modernise their customs systems and improve border posts, officials said.
The commission, the executive arm of the European Union, and the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional bloc signed the deal in the Namibian capital late on Thursday.
It followed a two-day meeting to map out a development plan for the region until 2020.
”The grant will support the SADC to put in place a legal and institutional framework for a future SADC customs union envisaged for 2010,” said Paul Malin, who signed the deal on behalf of the European Commission.
”The target set for establishing the customs union in four years [from now] will necessitate substantial transformation and modernisation in national customs administrations,” Malin added.
EU support will contribute to increased competitiveness of SADC producers and to the integration of SADC member states into the world economy, said Tomas Salomao, executive secretary of the Botswana-based SADC.
”SADC puts a high priority on deepening regional integration through a free trade area by 2008 and a common market by 2015,” Salomao said.
At the two-day conference, SADC countries discussed implementation of a regional strategic plan by 2020, focusing on key areas such as trade and economic liberalisation, infrastructure, sustainable food security, HIV/Aids and an action plan on defence and security. — Sapa-AFP