TRA’s deputy Commissioner Customs-- Modernisation and Risk Management Bellium Silaa made the revelation to Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) board members, shortly after they visited the project.

 

The ICF Board of Trustees visited the TRA to see how Tancis project is progressing and to hear about the expected benefits the new system will bring to businesses in the country and the surrounding region.

 

Silaa assured the board members that Tancis will bring greater transparency in the customs clearance requirements and process which will simplify and speed up the process for clearing import and export of goods through the customs.

 

He also said that the system will save clearing agents from moving from one office to another in an effort to get their documents cleared.  

 

“Instead, clearing and forwarding agents will be able to access Tancis from the comfort of their own office as long as they have access to the internet,” he said.

 

He pointed out that the system will also link with other stakeholders like shipping lines and ports authority to speed up the goods clearing process as well as banks to facilitate quick payment of customs fees and duties.

 

“As a result, the time from lodging of documents to issuance of customs release orders at the Port of Dar es Salaam is expected to tremendously decrease from four days to one day. Goods clearance time at the Port of Dar es Salaam is expected to decrease from five days to one for export goods, and from nine days to five for imports,” he said. 

 

He emphasised that Tancis will bring greater transparency in the customs clearance requirements and process. As the system will be available online, all relevant parties will be able to access it and see the relevant documentation, therefore we expect to reduce cheating, since everything will be online, no one will cheat anyone through this system.”

He noted that the system will also issue sms alerts to inform importers of the progress of their clearance request so they know at all times what is happening and are able to verify things like fees and duties that need to be paid.

 

 “Tamcos is expected to greatly improve the goods clearance process by providing one platform where all stakeholders involved in the importation and exportation of goods can exchange necessary information,” he said. 

 

“Importers and exporters will be able to submit all the necessary documentation through the platform. Government agencies involved in the goods clearing process such as Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) can then process those documents and issue the necessary permits and clearances,” he added.

 

Briefing the ICF Board of Trustees on the Tancis project status, the TRA acting Commissioner General, Lusekelo Mwaseba said the system will enable transparent and simplified Cargo management. 

 

“We expect reduction of cargo clearance time and anticipate trade facilitation that will reduce the cost of doing business and ultimately increase revenue,” he said. 

 

On his part, the ICF Board of Trustees Co-Chair Neville Isdel said it is good to see what is happening on the ground and to get a full picture of the effectiveness of the project. 

 

“This has been an impressive project visit. It is encouraging to see the passion and commitment that TRA has for this new system. It gives us confidence that the project will go well and be of great benefit to Tanzania. ICF is happy to work with TRA in this initiative to speed up movement of cargo and help to improve the investment climate in Tanzania,” he said.

 

ICF is a development institution that is donor funded and private sector focused, whose purpose is to work with businesses and African governments to improve the investment climate in respective African countries. Based in Tanzania, it is a unique partnership between governments, the private sector and development partners