United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ The Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) joined forces to host a pivotal two-day workshop in Johannesburg, aimed at empowering the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Member States in harnessing the potential of emerging digital infrastructure and digital trade opportunities. This gathering, attended by 50 trade officials from Member States including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and the SACU Secretariat, concentrated on the imperative need for establishing a regional framework for e-commerce within the SACU region. Participants engaged in robust discussions, contemplating strategies to propel e-commerce initiatives at the regional level, while identifying essential elements for shaping the framework.
Tsireletso Mojela, Chairperson of SACU and Deputy Principal Secretary of Lesotho’s Ministry of Trade, emphasized the significance of the workshop’s outcomes, noting their potential to fortify policy and practical measures in response to the evolving dynamics of cross-border trade and the facilitation of digital e-commerce within the Common Customs Area. He said, “The outcome of our deliberations should assist SACU to draw insights that will help strengthen policy and practical interventions towards addressing the changing landscape for cross-border trade, and how SACU can collectively facilitate digital e-commerce trade in the Common Customs Area.”
This workshop constituted an integral part of the Commonwealth’s Trade Competitiveness Section’s ongoing endeavors to bolster the global trade competitiveness of its member nations. It aligns with the commitment collectively embraced by Commonwealth Trade Ministers during the 2023 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting held in June, wherein they pledged support for the transition to an inclusive and sustainable digital future.
Paulo Kautoke, Senior Director of the Trade, Oceans, and Natural Resources Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, reiterated the organization’s determination to surmount challenges hindering e-commerce expansion and ensure that digital technologies evolve without exacerbating existing digital disparities. He said, “To ensure that our Member States continue to leverage the emerging digital infrastructure and digital trade opportunities, the Secretariat is determined to address the challenges that impede the expansion of e-commerce across the Commonwealth and ensure that the evolving digital technologies do not widen the existing digital divide.”
Cecile Barayre-El Shami, Chief of Digital Economy Capacity-Building Section at UNCTAD, expressed her readiness to assist SACU on their journey to fully harness the potential of e-commerce and digital trade. She highlighted the workshop’s importance in facilitating the exchange of experiences and lessons learned, as well as addressing the specific needs and concerns of SACU Member States from the outset of this transformative process. He said, “UNCTAD stands ready to support SACU on this path to harness further the potential of e-commerce and digital trade. The consultations that will take place today are very important. They will ensure the sharing of experience and lessons learnt. They will also allow for the needs and concerns of SACU Member States to be taken on board from the very beginning of this process.”
The workshop also served as a platform for international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Trade Organization (WTO), World Customs Organization (WCO), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in addition to representatives from the AfCFTA Secretariat, AU Commission, and ECOWAS Commission, to share their insights on the promotion of cross-border e-commerce and opportunities available for SACU Member States. This collaborative effort exemplified the commitment to harness the vast potential of e-commerce and digital trade in the pursuit of economic growth and development in the Southern African region.
