Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) and the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the enforcement of Type Approval Regulations associated with the importation of communications equipment.
“CRAN and NamRA will coordinate, harmonise and secure the consistent application of the respective laws governing the import, export and/or the manufacturing of telecommunications equipment in our country,” Emilia Nghikembua, CRAN’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said.
Nghikembua explained that the purpose of Type Approval is to ensure that telecommunications equipment used in Namibia comply with international standards. She said that the regulations also aim to ensure that sub-standard equipment, which may pose health and safety risks to consumers and that are incompatible with local networks, are not operated in the country.
The two institutions confirmed this collaboration in a joint statement that was issued by CRAN’s Head of Corporate Communications, Katrina Sikeni, and NamRa’s Chief of Strategic Communications and Support Engagements, Yarukeekuro Ndorokaze.
According to the statement, the signing of the MoU is a result of the two institutions’ aligned desires that are well-positioned to implement and enforce the provisions of section 80 of the Communications Act (8 of 2009) and the Type Approval Regulations relating to the importation of communications equipment into the country through various ports of entry.
The statement also revealed that the MoU is essentially and expansion on a previous agreement signed between CRAN and the Ministry of Finance’s Directorate of Customs and Excise in 2016. This, the statement explained, means that CRAN and NamRa intend to promote security and facilitate trade to allow for the harmonisation of customs procedures for international ordinary mail of the Designated Postal Operator.
Besides this, the statement explained, the two institutions also intend to collaborate on research and capacity building initiatives that are aimed at facilitating the lawful and efficient importation of telecommunications equipment and international ordinary mail.
“Additionally, CRAN and NamRA have demonstrated the need to adopt a proactive approach that would foster and improve efficiency, as well as quality of service in trade facilitation matters relating to the conveyance process of handling cross border mail in the postal sector. This consideration is significant given the decreasing global mail volumes and the drastic rise in E-commerce and digital transformation around the world because of the Covid-19 pandemic, amongst others,” the statement read.
NamRa’s Commissioner, Sam Shivute, said that the signing of the MoU is a great opportunity to promote coordination in the importation of telecommunication equipment and collaboration in capacity building between the two institutions. He explained that traders are faced with many challenges as they sometimes do not understand the requirements relating to the importation of certain equipment. The MoU, he said, will therefore benefit traders as information will be availed to them.
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