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Zambia LaunchesTime Release Study + Final Report

Summary

The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in collaboration with Zambia Revenue Authority together with KGH Border Service and Zambia Investment Climate Project III (ZICP III) with financial support from the Trade Facilitation Support Program undertook the ZAMBIA Time Release Study+ Final Report.

Updated on : 14-11-2022

ZAMBIA Time Release Study + Final Report

The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in collaboration with Zambia Revenue Authority together with KGH Border Service and Zambia Investment Climate Project III (ZICP III) with financial support from the Trade Facilitation Support Program undertook the ZAMBIA Time Release Study + Final Report.

The report contains the findings and recommendations from the Zambia Time Release Study ‘Plus’ (TRS+) conducted in February 2020. Information was collected from cross border regulatory agencies at Victoria Falls, Kazungula border points and the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. The TRS+ is based on the World Customs Organization’s Time Release Study Methodology and the report is based on the data entered into the World Customs Organization Time Release Study Software.

A TRS+ is a valuable tool in providing insights into how the time and costs for exporting and importing can be reduced as well as into how resources for Zambian border agencies can be deployed in the most effective way possible. It also provides the basis for the implementation of further trade facilitation reforms in Zambia that will be an important part for continued economic development.  In addition to examining the time for clearance and release at three border crossing points, the TRS+ has also analyzed the time taken for traders to apply for and receive the licenses, certificates or permits required for import, export and transit.

The study was conducted by KGH Border Services and commissioned by the Zambia Investment Climate Project III (ZICP III) and produced with the financial support from the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP) implemented by IFC and the World Bank which helps Countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA) and reduce the time and cost to trade.

The report contains both quantitative analysis using the data captured and a qualitative analysis based on the observations made during the execution of the Time Release Study ‘Plus’ as well as international standards and best practices thus the World Customs Organization (WCO) International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (the Revised Kyoto Convention), the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, the WCO Risk Management Compendium, the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement, and the World Bank Border Modernization Handbook.

Stakeholders from both the public and private sectors within the scope of the study contributed by collecting data and providing insights, these included the Zambia Revenue Authority and Cross Border Regulatory Agencies such as the Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency, the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority among others. The valuable support from the National Trade Facilitation Committee was critical to the success of the study under the auspices of the TRS Working Group. The good collaboration of private sector stakeholders during the preparation and implementation of the study was also greatly appreciated.

The Study provides a baseline to measure the benefits of reforms. As such it is important that further Time Release Studies are undertaken periodically.