Accredited traders in Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa will now benefit from reduced trade costs and simplified import-export procedures.

This positive development is the result of a mutual recognition arrangement signed by the five member states of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

Through the agreement, the Commissioners General of Revenue Authorities in the five countries agreed to recognise one another's authorised economic operators (AEO).