Trade Facilitation

Increases in global trade coupled with advancements in technology pose multiple challenges and will continue to pose more serious challenges to customs authorities and other agencies involved in the movement of international trade. This trend is expected to grow in leaps and bounds over time. It is with this in mind that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Development and Management of the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) together with instruments such as the World Customs Organization (WCO) Revised Kyoto Convention and Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade emphasize measures to reduce risks associated with international trade and promote the efficient and effective utilization of limited resources.

As part of the ongoing effort to modernize customs throughout eastern and southern Africa, a need was identified to introduce Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions. These solutions are aimed at streamlining cumbersome customs and trade facilitation procedures thereby reducing delays in cargo clearance and transit times while working towards a paperless, communicating, fully accountable and reportable trading environment.

This is a study on Development and Establishment of a Corridor Performance Monitoring System for the Dar es Salaam Corridor. SATH has worked with the DCC Secretariat to develop this study report and recommend an Action Plan for the implementation of a DCC CPMS. The purpose of this study report is to recommend the development and establishment of cost-effective and sustainable CPMS for DC using existing information collected by the various stakeholders.

The Dar es Salaam Corridor Committee (DCC) is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) involving government and private sector institutions from Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi, whose function is to reduce transport costs and transit times through the corridor, from the port of Dar es Salaam and to the connecting markets in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and elsewhere in Central and Southern Africa. The DCC was formally established in November 2008 through a Constitution signed by both the public and private DCC stakeholders in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. Efforts are underway for DRC stakeholders to be full members of the DCC.