Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) hands over a forklift to BURS

at the Mamuno border post.

The Japanese Government through JICA and the Government of Botswana is in the process of a One-Stop-Border-Post (OSBP) project based at Mamuno / Trans Kalahari border in cooperation with the Namibian Government through the

Namibian Customs Administration.

The Government of Japan has committed itself towards African Development – notably through the process of Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Japan made its intention to the establishment of a number of OSBP at the TICAD conference in 2008.

This project aims at operating the OSBP functions effectively and efficiently and is expected that the facilitation of trade, passengers and vehicles will be improved at the Mamuno / Trans Kalahari Border.

The project includes the dispatching of two Japanese experts, the provision of machinery and equipment (which includes the forklift), holding of seminars / workshops in Botswana and Namibia, training opportunities for Botswana and Namibian personnel in Japan. The last deliverables will be the development of the Operational Model of the OSBP and finally the development of a Manual based on the Operational Model.

This project is expected to be concluded in October 2012.

By Tshepo Seetso

BURS, Botswana