The 30th Regional Steering Group (RSG) meeting of the WCO East and Southern Africa region started yesterday in Botswana, hosted by Botswana Unified Revenue Services. The meeting was opened by Mr. Phodiso P. Valashia, the host Commissioner with opening remarks also delivered by Mr. Stephen Magera, the RSG Chairperson (representing the regional WCO Vice Chair, Uganda), Mr. Larry Liza, the WCO ESA ROCB Director and Mr. Patrick Gyan, the WCO Regional Development Manager. The RSG is meeting (20th to 22nd May 2019) prior to the Governing Council which will take place on 23rd and 24th May and is expected to deliberate on key issues, including the Implementation of the Regional Strategy, the ROCB Annual Report alongside other reports, the African Continental Free Trade Area and the WCO Trade Facilitation Agreement. 16 member countries are attending the meeting, alongside the ROCB, WCO, African Union Commission, SADC and SACU, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
