Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MBABANE355
2008-11-18 13:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Mbabane
Cable title:  

SWAZILAND: 2009 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT

Tags:  ETRD ECON EFIN WZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 181358Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY MBABANE
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3322
INFO SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
UNCLAS MBABANE 000355 


FOR USTR/GBLUE
FOR STATE EB/TPP/BTA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND: 2009 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT

REF: STATE 088685

---------------
IMPORT POLICIES
---------------

UNCLAS MBABANE 000355


FOR USTR/GBLUE
FOR STATE EB/TPP/BTA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN WZ
SUBJECT: SWAZILAND: 2009 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT

REF: STATE 088685

--------------
IMPORT POLICIES
--------------


1. TARIFFS

Swaziland is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO),the
Southern African Customs Union (SACU),the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC),and the Common Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa (COMESA). As a member of SACU, Swaziland's tariff
policies are generally determined by and integrated with SACU, in
accordance with the 2002 SACU Agreement. Accordingly, Swaziland
applies the SACU common external tariff. However, Swaziland
introduced a 14 percent sales tax for goods coming through its
borders regardless of the SACU member country of origin.

Swaziland's continued retention of its COMESA status is uncertain as
the COMESA Heads of State and Government continue to give Swaziland
one year derogations. The present derogation ends in December 2008.
COMESA plans to establish a Customs Union by December 2008, making
Swaziland's multiple memberships in SACU and COMESA a challenge.
The government of the Kingdom of Swaziland (GKOS) has engaged the
USAID Southern African Competitiveness Hub to do a study to assess
the economic importance of the COMESA market to Swaziland.
Swaziland exports four main products to this market, the largest
being soft drink concentrate, produced by Coca Cola Swaziland. The
study has made recommendations which the GKOS is still to adopt.


2. NONTARIFF MEASURES

There are no restrictions on imports into Swaziland and few
prohibited imports (except illicit drugs, pornography and arms).
Permits are required for certain imports, including all agricultural
products, mineral fuels, used clothes, mineral oils, motor vehicle
parts, used cars, medicinal drugs, and electrical appliances.
Licensing permits issued by the Ministry of Finance are generally
easy to obtain and are valid for one shipment. Goods imported to
Swaziland from outside SACU must be cleared through customs at the
first port of importation into SACU. A bill of entry must be
completed and submitted to customs, along with copies of the
supplier's invoices and a Swaziland import permit.

A cited nontariff barrier to trade was the October 2008 introduction
of the Automated Systems for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) to all border
posts. Although ASYCUDA is a significant improvement from the
previous system, it does not communicate with South Africa's customs

system, necessitating traders to declare their goods twice.

Another nontariff barrier is SADC's Single Administrative Document
500 (SAD 500) form. The form is used for multiple border crossings
and is supposed to standardize the number of forms needed for
transporting goods between SADC countries. Entrepreneurs trading
between SADC countries find the form cumbersome. The business
community has inundated the Federation of Swaziland Employers and
Chamber of Commerce with complaints. Large businesses are coping
with the requirement by designating employees to complete the form.
However, small entrepreneurs, with fewer employees and resources,
become reliant on makeshift offices opened at the borders to
complete the forms. These offices often charge exorbitant fees.

Other nontariff barriers to trade commonly cited are levy charges
and sales tax on some products like agricultural products, mineral
fuels, electronic equipment, etc.

-------------- ---
STANDARDS, TESTING, LABELING, AND CERTIFICATION
-------------- ---

In April 2008 the Swaziland Standards Authority (SSA) became fully
operational. The aim of this institution is to eliminate
Swaziland's reliance on the South African Bureau of Standards
(SABS),but it will work closely with SABS.

--------------
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
--------------

Although the government may accord local businesses a 15 percent
price preference in tendering for government contracts, it appears
that this preferential treatment is not always granted. South
African and other southern African countries are selected for a
large portion of government contracts. However, for small- and
medium-sized tenders, bidding companies must be registered in
Swaziland. The government inspects the premises of all suppliers
prior to awarding the tender. The government's withholding of a 10
percent tax from local government suppliers has been removed.

The government issues tender notices 7 to 30 days before tenders are
due, depending on the size of the contract. Potential suppliers
must pay a fee to obtain tender documentation and participate in
government procurements. Tenders must be submitted to the Central
Tender Board and suppliers are invited for the opening of the
tenders. In some instances, a Ministry can apply for a waiver of
the tender procedure if there are too few companies that supply a
particular commodity.

The Ministry of Finance has drafted a new Public Procurement law.
Currently, the Ministry is consulting with stakeholders about the
draft bill. The bill will establish a public procurement regulatory
authority, other public procurement institutions, and provide
regulation and control of practices in respect to public procurement
of goods, works and services by procuring entities.

Although the draft bill says there will be no discrimination, GKOS
will facilitate participation by Swazi companies in public
procurement.

Swaziland is not a signatory to the WTO Agreement on Government
Procurement.

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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) PROTECTION
--------------

Swaziland is a party to the WIPO Convention, the Berne Convention
for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the Paris
Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Swaziland is
also a party to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement
Concerning the International Registration of Marks and the Patent
Cooperation Treaty. Swaziland is a signatory to the Patent Law
Treaty and the Trademark Law Treaty.

Protection for patents, trademarks, and copyrights in Swaziland is
inadequate.

Updated patent legislation has been in draft form for the past four
years. When the new legislation is passed and enacted, the African
Regional Industrial Property Organization is expected to help
Swaziland with technical assistance in granting patents.

Copyright protection is also limited, as the copyright statutes are
not adequately implemented. The Ministry of Justice and
Constitutional Affairs has drafted an updated Copyright Act, based
on the World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO) model.


--------------
SERVICES BARRIERS
--------------

Foreign participation in the services sector is generally not
restricted. In 2007, the GKOS de-monopolised the insurance
industry, and a number of insurance companies are now operating in
the country.

MTN Swaziland is the only mobile telecommunications provider. MTN
Swaziland was given a 10 year monopoly that ends in 2008.

The Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation is the sole
provider of the fixed-line telecommunications services.

--------------
INVESTMENT BARRIERS
--------------

Swaziland does not have an investment code. The emphasis on foreign
investment is more a matter of policy statements by the government
and individual ministers than a matter of laws and institutions to
support such policies. Calls for the streamlining of procedures to
start a business have gone unheeded. Few suggestions from the
USAID-funded 2005 Investor Road Map report have been implemented.

Major legislation to support a solid investment climate is lacking
in Swaziland. There is a need for a Securities Code to support
investors who buy shares in the securities market. A Securities
Bill has been proposed, but not yet passed. Related legislation
known as the Financial Services Regulatory Authority Bill has not
reached Parliament. The legislation would bring under one
regulatory net all non-bank financial institutions such as insurance
firms, retirement funds, building societies, capital markets, and
intermediaries.

The outdated Companies Act of 1912, which was retooled from an 1889
South African law, has finally been replaced. In 2008 the
"Companies" law passed through parliament and now awaits the King's
signature. The law would regulate incorporation, registration,
management, administration, and dissolution of companies. While
foreign businesses currently operating in Swaziland complain about
the lack of regulations, some also emphasize that it would be a
mistake to decide against investing in Swaziland for this reason
alone.

There are no formal policies or practices that discriminate against
foreign owned investors and companies in Swaziland. Foreign
investors are free to invest in most sectors of the Swazi economy;
however, investors should be aware of state-run or state-sanctioned
monopolies. Pineapple canning, cellular and fixed line
telecommunications, and water are all state- sanctioned or
state-owned monopolies. The Trade and Business Facilitation Bill,
originally drafted in 2001, requires specified sectors to maintain a
certain degree of Swazi ownership, and encourages small scale
entrepreneurship in rural areas. The bill is waiting for
consideration by parliament.

The Cabinet has approved a privatization policy, and the GKOS is
taking steps to implement the policy. The privatization process
will create a Public Enterprise Agency charged with ensuring that
public enterprises are managed efficiently and are not a drain on
the nation's resources. A key parastatal being targeted for
privatization, with the possibility of joint ventures for foreign
investors, is the Swazi Post and Telecommunications Corporation
(SPTC). The Swaziland Electricity Act 2007 outlawed the Swaziland
Electricity Board's previous monopoly. The Swaziland Electricity
Board is now a private company, although still wholly owned by the
Swazi Government. It is hoped that the GKOS will set up the office
of the Energy Regulator and also open the sale of shares in the
Electricity Company this year. There is room for improvement, as
GKOS efforts are moving slowly.

Land acquisition is a barrier to investment in Swaziland. Large
plots of land not designated as Swazi Nation Land (under the control
of local or national officials),are difficult to find, and
companies, especially those in agribusiness, are therefore finding
it difficult to expand their operations.

PARKER