Thailand top car exporter to Botswana

Toyota top car exporter to Botswana and other RHD and LHD countries of Southern Africa

Jim is Thailand’s top car exporter, Dubai’s top car exporter, Singapore’s top car exporter and England United Kingdom’s top car exporter and 4×4 exporter, importer and dealer of New 2016 2017 and Used 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 models of Toyota Hilux Vigo, Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi L200 Triton, Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado, Isuzu Dmax, Isuzu MU-7 and other 4×4 pickups and SUVs to the RHD and LHD countries of the world. Jim is also Thailand’s top car exporter to Africa. We are exporting RHD vehicles to all countries of Southern and Eastern Africa and Left Hand Drive vehicles to LHD countries of Southern, Central and Western Africa.

Jim has dominated export of vehicles to Southern Africa including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles and Angola.

We also dominate exports to Eastern Africa. After banning of imported stolen vehicles, Jim has emerged as Thailand’s top car exporter and top 4×4 exporter to Uganda, Kenya and other East African countries as Tanzania and Malawi just as we were Thailand’s top car exporter and top 4×4 exporter to Southern African countries. Please note that right now while you can only import vehicles from between 2001 and 2008 as Kenya only allows importation of cars that are less than eight years old. Uganda used to have no such restrictions but this year (2008) Uganda will also have this eight year restriction. We are sending mostly used second-hand Toyota Hilux Tiger and nearly new and new Toyota Hilux Vigoto Uganda, Kenya and the rest of East Africa.

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the oldest Customs Union in the world.  SACU came into existence on 11 December 1979 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It entered into force on the 1st of March 1970, thereby replacing the Customs Union Agreement of 1910. It was renegotiated in 1994.

SACU revenue constitutes a substantial share of the state revenue of the BLNS (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) countries.

Products imported into South Africa can therefore circulate freely within these 4 countries.

Eastern Africa includes Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan. Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia are Right Hand Drive countries while Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan are Left Hand Drive countries. Malawi and Zambia are sometimes counted among Southern African countries as well and are a part of South African Regional organizations as well. We serve Tanzania from Dar-es-Salaam port and Kenya from Mombasa port. Ugandan Burundi and Rwandan buyers prefer Mombasa but can also route via Dar-es-Salaam. Malawians buyers have choice between Mombasa, Dar-es-Salaam and Durban.  All the other countries have their own ports but our shipment to Southern Sudan are often routed via Mombasa.

thailand top Toyota Vigo and 4x4 pickup SUV exporter to Southern AfricaSouthern African countries include Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, Mayotte, and Réunion. Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Seychelles are Right Hand Drive countries while Angola, Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, and Réunion are Left Hand Drive countries.

Please note that Jim is Thailand’s largest exporter to Africa. People may find it daunting to export to South Africa but not with Jim. Email us now at [email protected] and discover the Jim difference. Jim is family-owned and family-operated since 1911 and is known for its superior integrity, great customer service, great prices, great selection, great quality and great speed of delivery.

The founder members of the East African Community Customs Union are Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In December 2006, Burundi and Rwanda were admitted into the Union. Members of COMESA are Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Finally, South African Development Community (SADC) is comprised of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The majority of our exports to South Africa are going to Durban based dealers who buy it for their customers in different parts of South and East Africa.

Botswana

Thailand top new and used car 4x4 vigo triton exporter to BotswanaA landlocked country in southern Africa, Botswana has a total area of 600,370 sq km (231,802 sq mi), extending 1,110 km (690 mi) NNE–SSW and 960 km (597 mi) EWE–WNW. Comparatively, the area occupied by Botswana is slightly smaller than the state of Texas. It meets Zambia at a point in the N and is bordered on the NE by Zimbabwe, on the SE and S by South Africa, and on the W and N by Namibia, with a total boundary length of 4,013 km (2,494 mi).

The Republic of Botswana, one of Africa’s truly prosperous nations and arguably its most stable democracy, occupies 225,000 square miles (about the size of Texas) in the center of the southern Africa plateau. Most of its area is an inhospitable semi-desert known as the Kalahari. Even the most arable sections of eastern Botswana are subject to periodic drought and unpredictable rains. Botswana straddles the Tropic of Capricorn and has an average elevation of 3,300 feet. Daily high temperatures during the hottest month, January, average in the upper 90’s to over 100 °F. Winter daytime temperatures generally reach 70°, but with little cloud cover and no humidity to hold warmth in the air, they plummet to 30 or 40°F at night.

Botswana’s four major incorporated towns, all located along the eastern edge of the country are Gaborone (224,000); Francistown (106,500); Selebi-Phikwe (50,500); Lobatse (33,000); and Mochudi (31,000). Other towns with more than 20,000 residents are Serowe in the Central District, Kanye in the Southern District, Molepolole in the Kwenange District, and Maun in the Ngamiland District.

Botswana Import Duty

Botswana belongs to a customs union called the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, and Namibia. South Africa levies and collects most of the customs, sales, and excise duties for the five member states, paying a share of the revenues to the other four. In addition, all customs duties are eliminated among the five countries. The SACU implements high protectionist tariffs on countries outside of the club, though, disheartening potential nonmember investors. In 1996, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) launched a free trade agreement for the elimination of tariff and non-tariff trade barriers between its member countries (Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), to be completed by 2010.

South Africa has put in place a value-added tax (VAT) for imports coming into the SACU from outside, but its implementation on Botswana’s borders has so far been unsuccessful. Additionally, as a signatory of GATT and a member of the World Trade Organization, Botswana and the rest of the SACU will have to reduce tariffs by 24% over the course of 10 years.

Botswana Vehicle Policy

There is no restriction on age of imported used vehicles and you can import vehicles older than ten years if you so choose. Maintenance is available locally, but is not always satisfactory. The price for replacement parts is high and the parts themselves are not always immediately available. Right-hand-drive Chevrolet Blazers, Daimler Chrysler minivans, Toyotas, Nissans, Isuzus, Mazdas, Landrovers, Mercedes, South African Fords, and Opels are the most common vehicles. To take advantage of the region’s many game parks, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is preferable and, in some cases, the only viable choice. Gasoline and diesel fuel are available in all major towns and villages. Unleaded gasoline is available, but can be difficult to find outside of the largest cities.

The accident rate in Botswana is high for several reasons. Rising incomes and the proliferation of low-cost automobile purchase programs have put many inexperienced drivers on the road. Also, all major highways in the country are paved, but consist of only two lanes, making it necessary to pull into the oncoming traffic lane in order to pass. Speed limits are high and many roads do not have adequate shoulders, thus head-on collisions and rollovers are common. The situation is compounded by the ubiquitous presence of livestock on the road and the high incidence of drunk driving. Night driving is extremely dangerous and not recommended. The Government has initiated a project to expand the heavily traveled Gaborone-Francistown corridor to four lanes, which will be a welcome improvement.

Motor vehicle drivers in South Africa or Botswana must have third-party-liability insurance, current vehicle registration and valid license plates. The registration sticker must be affixed to the windshield of the vehicle where it can be inspected by the authorities. Motor vehicles imported into Botswana are required to undergo a safety inspection and any deficiencies must be corrected before registration plates can be issued.

Documents Required for Customs Clearance

  • Passport
  • Residence Permit and Work Permit
  • Letter from employer confirming appointment and duration of contract
  • Inventory
  • Form CE101 (in duplicate, to be presented to the Department of Customs and Excise)
  • P1.160 Form (in triplicate)

Customs Regulations for Returning Residents

Customer must be in Botswana at the time of Customs Clearance

Returning residents must prove to Customs that they have been out of the country for two years or more
Used household goods and personal effects must arrive within six months of Customer’s arrival

Importing Cars and other vehicles

Depending on the status of the owner, an auto may be imported duty-free providing it has been owned and used for one year prior to shipment and arrives within six months of Customer’s arrival

Documents required:

  • Import Permit, issued by the Ministry of Commerce, is required
  • Application form IC.2 (available from destination agent) to be completed and forwarded with registration documents to the Ministry of Commerce
  • Registration papers and proof that the auto has been owned and used for one year
  • Purchase invoice and/or proof of purchase value
  • CE101 completed in duplicate, submitted with Import Permit, Residence Permit, Passport, to Department of Customs and Excise
  • Police clearance certificate

Southern Africa

SACU (the Southern African Customs Union)

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is the oldest Customs Union in the world.  SACU came into existence on 11 December 1979 with the signature of the Customs Union Agreement between South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland. It entered into force on the 1st of March 1970, thereby replacing the Customs Union Agreement of 1910. It was renegotiated in 1994.

SACU revenue constitutes a substantial share of the state revenue of the BLNS (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) countries.

Products imported into South Africa can therefore circulate freely within these 4 countries.

 

Regional Agreements

The Common Market for East and Southern Africa

The Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) has been operating, in one form or another, since 1981.  COMESA aims to promote economic integration via the removal of barriers to trade and investment among COMESA member states. Moreover, COMESA aims to advocate for infrastructure development, and development in science and technology. Economic integration is envisaged to progress from the Free Trade Area (FTA) to an economic monetary union. The FTA became operational on 1st November 2000 with nine participating countries initially. The nine member countries that are implementing zero tariffs are Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti, Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  However in January 2004, Burundi and Rwanda joined the FTA, bringing the total number of participating countries to eleven.

The COMESA FTA is an agreement among members not to apply customs duties or charges on goods traded amongst themselves.  The eligible goods for duty-free treatment must meet the agreed upon Rules of Origin.  Members also agree to eliminate all non-tariff barriers to trade between them.

A COMSEA Certificate of Origin is required for each consignment of goods and is obtained from the Revenue Authority in respective member countries.

The Southern Africa Development Community

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) aims to promote regional integration and sustainable development in the regional community.

Members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), comprising 14 countries, signed a Trade Protocol, which calls for the implementation of a Free Trade Area.  Each country has negotiated two reduced tariff schedules.  One schedule is applicable only for South Africa, and another schedule for all other SADC members. Zambia’s implementation of her offer, effective 30th April 2001, is provided to those countries that provide Zambia with the SADC reduced tariff schedule.

The reduction of tariffs to South Africa provide for delayed liberalization, while the schedule to other members provide for broader and faster access to the South Africa market.  The tariff schedule applicable to SADC members, with the exception of South Africa, has three categories.  Category A products are those products which go to zero-duty immediately upon implementation.  The tariff for Category B products gradually goes down to zero-duty over a period of eight years, and the tariff of Category C products reaches zero-duty twelve years after implementation.  Category C products are known as sensitive products, and include for Zambia meat and dairy products, tea, some flours, raw sugar, cement, textiles and clothing, and motor vehicles.

Plans are currently underway to establish a Free Trade Agreement by 2008, and a SADC Customs Union by 2010.

A SADC Certificate of Origin is required for each consignment of goods and is obtained from the Revenue Authority.

South Africa – RHD

South Africa is one of Bloomstar’s – and by extension Jim Motors’ – global hub. Our Gold Partners have dealership in Durban Port and after keeping the vehicles suitable for South African markets, they resell the rest to the customers who flock to Durban port from all parts of Africa. We are exporting a number of new and Jim Quality Toyota and Mitsubishi vehicles to South Africa, some for South African consumers while the vast number of vehicles are imported for the express purpose of re-export to other Southern African countries.

The main zones of economic concentration are located in the main South African conglomerations: Johannesburg / Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban.

The entire motor vehicle imports and exports (over 175,000 units in 2003/04) are handled through two major car terminals at Durban, East London with an additional number handled at Port Elizabeth. Durban Container Terminal (DCT) is South Africa’s largest and one of the busiest and best equipped in the southern Hemisphere. DCT serves as a pivotal hub for the entire southern Africa region, serving trade links to the Far East, Middle East, Australasia, South America, North America and Europe. The terminal also serves as a transshipment hub for East Africa and Warning: Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, Jim Autos Thailand, its sister companies or its parent company The Jim Group of Companies, cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance

 

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