SADC and EU Launch Information Portal to Boost Market Access under the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, in partnership with the European Union (EU) through the SADC Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), officially launched the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Information Portal. The portal is designed to enhance market access for six EU-SADC EPA Member States: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, and South Africa.
The EPA aims to improve trade between SADC and the EU by strengthening the SADC Protocol on Trade, particularly in areas such as trade in goods, customs and trade facilitation, and sustainable development. The launch marks a significant milestone in making essential trade-related information more accessible.
Mr. Dhunraj Kassee, Director of Industrial Development and Trade at the SADC Secretariat, praised the portal’s potential to simplify access to vital information on EU market requirements, customs protocols, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and technical trade barriers. He emphasized the portal’s role in building capacity within SADC EPA Member States, targeting private sector players, youth, and women.
The portal offers a range of features, including a Google-powered search tool, a user-friendly interface, mobile compatibility, and a content management system to support efficient management by the SADC Secretariat and Member States. Ms. Hildah Moleofe, Chief Technical Advisor for the EU-SADC EPA at the SADC Secretariat, acknowledged the collaborative efforts of National Focal Points from the six Member States in the portal’s development.
The EU-SADC EPA, which began provisional application in October 2016 and became fully operational in February 2018, facilitates duty-free and quota-free access for goods from the SADC region to the EU. Key exports from the SADC region to the EU include minerals, beef, fish, aluminum, motor vehicles, citrus fruits, wines, and sugar. In return, the EU exports machinery, chemicals, motor vehicle parts, pharmaceuticals, and processed foods to the region.
SADC is committed to expanding the portal to include all relevant trade data from the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA), Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Republic of Angola has expressed interest in joining the EPA, further strengthening regional trade ties.
