Project

A. General Information

1. Title

Tanzania and Congo-customs interconnectivity

2. Status of the project
Operating
3. Implementation period of the project/service:
From
2014
To
Present
5. Geographical coverage
Bilateral
Participating countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Republic of Tanzania
6. Participating agencies/entities of the project/service:
a. Development stage
Lead agencies/entities
Customs authorities ,The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF)
Other participating agencies/entities
--
b. Operational stage
Lead agencies/entities (op)
Customs authorities ,The Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF)
Other participating agencies/entities (op)
--
7. Main stakeholders/beneficiaries of the project
Traders (big enterprises)
Traders (SMEs)
Customs brokers
Customs
8. Business process category of the project
Regulatory/official control

B. Lessons Learned

9. Summary description of the project/service
Brief Summary

Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to exchange information related to the transit of goods exported to the DRC. Tanzania connected Congo’s customs office in Tanzania to its IT system called TANCIS. It allows Congo to collect transit-related data and monitor movements of goods.


 

a. Objective(s)

The Tanzanian Revenue Authority and the Directorate General of Customs of the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed;

To exchange information relating to the transit of goods exported to the Democratic Republic of Congo

To combat fraud

To secure goods in logistic chain between Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam and the various borders of Congo

To establish customs office of Congo in the port of Dar es Salaam with the task of facilitating the clearance of cargo.

b. Business need for the project (background)

To securing goods imported by Congo’s economic operators when in transit at theTanzanian port of Dar es Salaam and combating fraud within the international logistics chainbetween Tanzania and the DRC.

c. Business process covered*

Congo Customs office is connected to Tanzanian Revenue Authority’s IT system.

d. Overall architecture and functionalities*

Tanzanian Revenue Authority connected Congo’s customs office in Tanzania to its IT system called TANCIS (Tanzania Customs Integrated System).

The connection enabled Congo’s customs office in Tanzania to collect all data relating transit of goods declared to be in transit in Congo.

Congo’s customs office forwards transit information to all relevant Customs posts.

To reassure Tanzanian Customs that the consignments declared to be in transit through itsoffices have actually arrived in the DRC, the Congolese Customs in theport of Dar es Salaam sends the Tanzanian Customs authority information,regarding the goods that have actuallybeen taken over by Customs offices in Congo.

The Congo’s Customs office, by using the software tool made available by its Tanzaniancounterparts, can monitor all movements of goods at Customs offices of exit in Tanzania without handling the physical declarations covering transit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

e. Relevant document/figure
--
10. Documents and data exchanged via the project

Data relating to transit of goods

11. Data models/databases, proprietary solutions, hybrid approaches
--
12. Main challenges faced during the project
--
13. Lessons learned from the project
--
14. Main benefit(s) of the project
Enhanced regulatory compliance*
Transaction Cost savings*
Transaction Time savings
Simplified process
14A. Elaborations/detailed description on benefits gained

Simplification of the transit procedure

Minimizing fraud and corruption

Efficient exchange of information

15. Technical/financial/capacity building/other assistance
--
16. Future plan for expansion of the project

The use of electronic seals

Mutual recognition of Customs clearing agents

information on goods thathave arrived in the port of Dar es Salaam has been directly transmitted electronically to theCongolese Customs system and has enabled Customs agencies to assign declarations to theregimes of their choice (pilot).

17. Other information or relevant references on the project

WCO Transit practices

18. Relevant document regarding the project
--

C. Relevant Standards

20. Electronic message standard
20A. Electronic message standard supporting the project
--
20B. Type of standard for electronic message applied for the project
--
21. Technical communication standard
21A. Technical communication standard supporting the project
N/A
21B. Type of technical communication standard applied for the project
--
22. Security-related standards*
22A. Security-related standard supporting the project
--
22B. Type of security-related standard applied for the project
--
23. Other Technical Information
23A. Interface developed for data exchange with an internal system
--
23B. Other technical implementation information
--