Namibia and Russia have signed a new customs agreement in Moscow to streamline the cross-border movement of goods and step up joint efforts against customs violations, allafrica.com reported.
The bilateral pact was finalized during the Third Russia-Africa Summit. It commits both nations to sharing trade data, customs information, and mutual administrative assistance designed to clear shipments faster.
Namibia Revenue Agency Commissioner Sam Shivute signed the framework alongside his Russian counterpart. The arrangement gives NamRA a direct channel to study advanced technologies and operational methods used by the Russian customs service.
According to the published draft text, the two customs authorities will exchange statistics on goods traded between their markets. The framework also covers cooperation in investigating and preventing customs offences.
Authorities will use the shared data to verify the classification, origin, and declared value of shipments crossing their borders. This operational capability is intended to help officials spot incorrect declarations, under-invoicing, and related violations.
Shivute stated that the partnership will eliminate administrative bottlenecks and improve services for traders moving products between Russia and Namibia.
“The cooperation in sharing knowledge and best practices will enable NamRA to implement trade facilitation measures that will remove inefficiencies and bottlenecks in our customs clearing processes and ensure that the traders between Russia and Namibia are better served,” Shivute said in an interview with New Era shortly after the signing ceremony in Russia.
The agreement also targets advance rulings, product authenticity determinations, and the correct application of rules of origin. Officials plan to organize joint training sessions, seminars, and exchanges of personnel to build technical capacity within NamRA.
Safeguards built into the draft require both sides to treat shared customs data as strictly confidential under domestic laws. The framework permits either government to withhold assistance if a request threatens national security, sovereignty, or other essential national interests.
“The customs service of Russian Federation is very advanced in the areas of training, capacity development and the adoption of technologies and Namibia stands to benefit through NamRA’s collaboration with a world class Russian Customs Service,” Shivute said.
Full implementation of the agreement now depends on both governments completing their respective domestic administrative and legal procedures.
