PRETORIA, 11 April 2018 – The South African Revenue Service (SARS) will host the Customs Cooperation Meeting, which is a representation of the heads of customs authorities from BRICS member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa with a view to enhance relations and further improve co-operation and promote development among BRICS member countries.

The heads of customs administrations from BRICS member countries will meet in Durban from 18 to 19 April 2018. This meeting will be preceded by a customs experts meeting at the same venue from 16 to 17 April 2018. SARS will also host the tax experts and the heads of tax administrations in June 2018. These meetings are part of government wide departmental meetings that forms part of the build up to the 10th BRICS Summit which South Africa will host as chair of BRICS in August 2018.

The South African Government has committed itself to using its role as chair of BRICS in 2018 to strategically plan towards the goal of improved co-operation in the next decade.

Government has also committed itself to follow through on the agenda that was set in Xiamen, China in 2017, when China was chair, to ensure maximum synergy and continuity.

This will be the second time that South Africa is hosting the BRICS Summit, after previously hosting the Summit in March 2013.

South Africa’s membership of BRICS is a vital element in pursuit of its foreign policy priorities, including the promotion of the African Agenda, sustainable development, global governance reform and cooperation.