The SADC Secretariat, in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the GIZ Cooperation for the Enhancement of SADC Regional Economic Integration (CESARE) programme, convened a 2-day workshop on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) from 8-9 October 2025 in Gaborone, Republic of Botswana. The workshop brought together customs officials and representatives from various government agencies stationed at Botswana’s ports of entry, including Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, as well as the Sikwane, Ramotswa, and Tlokweng Border Posts.
In her opening remarks, Ms Motheba Malibeng on behalf of Mr. Dhunraj Kassee the Director of Industrial Development and Trade at the SADC Secretariat indicated that the aim of the workshop was to enhance the capacity of border officials to identify, report and resolve NTBs. NTBs are a course for concern in the region, there are numerous NTBs reported on the online system and the resolution rate is minimal. She further, indicated that the SADC Secretariat with assistance from partners continue to organise sensitisation and training workshops for Member States to assist them to identify and resolve NTBs. The Committee of Ministers of Trade had also directed the Secretariat to develop a mechanism that will guide Member States to speedily resolve NTBs. The Secretariat has developed an Annex Concerning NTBs to the Protocol on Trade that has been legally scrubbed by the SADC Ministers of Justice and will soon be adopted by the Ministers of Trade. The Annex once adopted will provide the NTB resolution enforcement mechanism in the region.
In her opening remarks, the Director of Trade Development Ms Johana Segotlong, emphasised that “addressing NTBs is, therefore, not just a technical exercise; it is a strategic imperative for achieving the objectives of both SADC and the AfCFTA, thus enhancing Botswana’s competitiveness in the regional and continental markets”. She pointed out that while celebrating the achievements Botswana has made towards integration within Africa, it is equally important to recognise our responsibility to support in identifying and resolving NTBs that may arise during implementation of the SADC FTA, Tripartite FTA and the AfCFTA and other trade agreements.
Participants benefited from presentations on the overview of the AfCFTA and TFTA Agreements and the respective NTB annexes under these agreements. The programme also included hands-on exercises to apply the knowledge gained, along with a demonstration of the NTB online mechanism.
