Seychelles takes presidency of the first Indian Ocean Islands Customs Committee |14 October 2023
Delegates in a souvenir photograph
Seychelles has been appointed to head the first Indian Ocean Islands Customs Committee.
The appointment of Seychelles for presidency took place yesterday during the committee’s first meeting held at the Savoy Seychelles Resort and SPA, Beau Vallon.
The meeting saw the participation of heads of customs and other representatives across the Indian Ocean namely from Reunion, Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles.
At its last Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) meeting in June 2023, the council of ministers approved the implementation of Customs Committee for the region and mandated the Indian Ocean Customs secretariat to support the creation of a Customs Committee.
The setting up of the committee followed discussions held in November 2022 in Reunion, between heads of the customs administration of the five IOC member states.
The purpose of the Indian Ocean Islands Customs Committee is to provide a platform for the member states’ customs administrations to engage in discussion on customs related issues, facilitate the implementation of projects of common interest, and encourage the coordination of customs good practices to ensure security and to facilitate trade.
It is also to intensify technical cooperation and capacity building, as well as increase cooperation in the gathering and sharing of intelligence to facilitate the prevention, investigation and punishment for breach of customs offences.
During yesterday’s session participants discussed the committee’s purpose, function, mission and objectives, projects to be considered, designation of focal points, drug trafficking issues, capacity building and a date and place for the committee’s official launch.
Reunion was represented by the correspondent of the regional cooperation, Thierry Atchama Sourama, while Comoros’ three-member delegation was led by Said Youssou, technical advisor to the director general of customs.
Mauritius’ delegate was Dinathsingh Mungla, head of anti-narcotics division of the Mauritius Revenue Authority, and Madagascar’s representative was Liva Andriamahady, head of international cooperation division.
Seychelles was represented by SRC’s acting commissioner general, Fred Morel, and the commissioner for customs, Paul Barrack.
At the end of the discussion, Seychelles was appointed to take charge of the first committee, with Mr Barrack as the chairman. The committee’s term will be announced at the official launch in Mauritius next year.
Madagascar holds the post of vice-chair, while Comoros will be the rapporteur. Mauritius in collaboration with Reunion, are responsible for the secretariat.
In his opening remarks to launch the meeting, the acting commissioner general of the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC), Fred Morel, said the idea of having such a committee is a positive one, which will bring with it a wealth of opportunities and benefits in terms of the establishment of a platform to facilitate the exchange of ideas.
“Through capacity building and technical assistance, we will be able to support each other to develop the competences of our officers to improve trade facilitation and to intensify our fight against drug trafficking and other illicit activities posing a threat to our society,” Mr Morel said.
Text & photos by Patrick Joubert
