The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has emphasised the region’s untapped commerce potential and called for the urgent removal of trade barriers.
Speaking at the WCO East and Southern Africa 39th RSG Meeting, NamRA Commissioner Sam Shivute advocated for increased intra-African trade, stressing the need for streamlined customs procedures.
“When I was in Angola, I was speaking with my brothers in Angola and they say they are getting their meat from Argentina. I’m saying why can’t they just get the meat from Namibia because it’s very short and so on? But there’s these customs barriers and so on, things that we need to discuss and make sure that it’s taken out,” Shivute remarked.
Drawing parallels with trading patterns in Asia and Europe, where intra-regional trade constitutes a significant portion of overall trade, Shivute highlighted the missed opportunities for intra-African commerce.
“In Asia and Europe, trading between each other is about 50% and 70% respectively, but here, we’re trading more with many people who are from very far away, instead of trading between ourselves,” he noted.
Shivute’s call for streamlined customs procedures resonates with broader discussions on the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The AfCFTA aims to create a single market for goods and services across the continent, removing barriers to trade and enhancing economic integration.
“As we engage in discussions surrounding the World Customs Organisation (WCO) theme, we must be clear about our purpose within the global context and our contribution to both national and international economies,” Shivute emphasised.
He said that traditionally, nations have focused inwardly, but AfCFTA heralds a new era of collaboration and opportunity.
Shivute noted that with access to a market of over 1.3 billion consumers, there’s immense potential to lift 50 million Africans out of poverty.
However, intra-African trade remains remarkably low, accounting for less than 15% of total trade, despite peak figures of 21% between 2013 and 2016, he emphasised.
