The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union (EU) have unveiled the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Information Portal, a digital platform aimed at enhancing cross-border sharing of information among the six SADC EPA member states.
The SADC Secretariat said on Wednesday that the launch took place on March 17 on the sidelines of a meeting under the SADC Trade Facilitation Programme.
The portal, developed with input from national focal points in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa, features user-friendly functionality, including a Google-powered search tool, mobile compatibility and an efficient content management system.
It serves as a resource for stakeholders to access critical information related to the EPA, such as EU market requirements, customs protocols, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and trade barriers.
During the launch, Dhunraj Kassee, SADC’s Director of Industrial Development and Trade, described the portal as a key tool for improving access to information and fostering greater cooperation under the EPA framework.
He noted the importance of capacity-building initiatives to optimise the portal’s usage, particularly targeting private sector stakeholders, women and youth.
The EPA, which entered into full force in February 2018, facilitates duty-free and quota-free access for goods from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Namibia to the EU, with South Africa benefiting from significant tariff reductions.
This partnership has boosted trade flows, with SADC EPA countries exporting minerals, beef, motor vehicles, citrus fruits and wines to the EU, while importing machinery, chemicals and processed foods.
Looking ahead, SADC aims to create a comprehensive trade information portal encompassing data from the SADC Free Trade Area, the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area, further advancing regional and international trade collaboration.
The TFTA comprises members of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community and SADC.
