SADC to launch the Report of the Time Release Study (TRS) along the SADC Regional North-South Trade Corridor in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) with support from the European Union (EU), under the Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) will launch the Report of the Time Release Study (TRS) along the SADC Regional North-South Trade Corridor. The event will be held in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe on 7th February 2025.

The TFP, endorsed by the SADC Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration in March 2016, aims to strengthen the Free Trade Area in accordance with the SADC Treaty, the Protocol on Trade, and other related policy documents. Among its 28 activities, the TRS is a critical component.    

The TRS is an international model instrument employed to assess the time taken for goods transactions and their clearance across the supply chain. In the SADC region, the TRS along the North-South Corridor represents the first comprehensive study of this strategic route, evaluating efficiency in the clearance of goods at major sea ports and border posts.

The SADC Secretariat coordinated this study, which commenced at Durban port and extended to the Kasumbalesa border post in Zambia, passing through the Beitbridge border post and the Chirundu One Stop Border Post (OSBP).

The TRS assesses the cost of doing business at key entry points such as border ports, seaports, and road infrastructure. Conducted by customs and trade experts in collaboration with various supply chain stakeholders, the study utilised the World Customs Organisation's electronic system methodology, involving port and border agencies from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This comprehensive report was validated by experts from SADC Member States in March 2024 and it presents various recommendations. If effectively implemented, these recommendations are expected to enhance the ease of doing business within the region.