SFAAZ annual conference set for July 28

28.
The conference will be held under the theme “The Freight Forwarding Industry – Today and Tomorrow.”
This is a follow through on last year’s theme of “Customs and Business: Improving Performance through Partnership” as players in the industry continue to focus on the range of issues that pertain to the growth of the industry.

Key issues to be discussed include, reconstruction projects in Beitbridge and Forbes Border Post, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority service level agreement, and customs automated systems among others.
SFAAZ chief executive Mr Joseph Musariri said the guest of honour would be Manicaland governor Chris Mushohwe, while Zimra commissioner of customs and excise Mr Happious Kunzvinzwa will deliver the keynote address.

The main presentations will be made by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Regional Integration and International Co-operation, Mr Tedious Chifamba, Chinhoyi University of Science and Technology lecturer Dr Martin Tukuta, and Mutare Dry Port managing director Mr Charles Tawazadza.
The conference will also have a regional touch with the presence of Worker Freight Services (Namibia) representative Mr Leonard Shidute, who will make a presentation on Walvis Bay as an alternative route for business.

Presentations will also be made by Zimra representatives of the following sections transit bonds management, customs automated systems, Beitbridge and Forbes border posts reconstruction projects, and the Zimra service level agreement.

The shipping and forwarding industry is undergoing transformations in view of the introduction of customs automated systems such as the ASYCUDA system.
ASYCUDA is a computerised customs management system, which covers most foreign trade procedures.

The system handles manifests and customs declarations, accounting procedures, transit and suspense procedures.
ASYCUDA also functions to generate trade data that can be used for statistical economic analysis.

Customs automated systems is one of the key factors in the industry at the moment that facilitates trade growth through speedy processing of documents, data standardisation and computerisation of customs clearance procedures to accelerate the clearance of goods.