The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Executive Secretary, Dumisani Masilela, has said the union plays a vital role in the management of the regions' economies.

Masilela made the remarks during a courtesy visit to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. 

He pointed to the sharing of SACU revenue between member states as a smaller picture of the broader initiatives and called for collaboration among developing economies to encourage industrialisation.

"Some of the investments that we need to make for purposes of industrialising our economies are very, very difficult for us as individual countries to be able to sustain on our own. So from that perspective, I would say it plays a very, very big role in the management of the economies of the region."

The union facilitates cross-border trade, promotes fair competition, and encourages investment and industrial development.

It also enhances economic competitiveness, integrates member states into the global economy and ensures equal sharing of customs revenue between the five member states, including Namibia.