Africa-Press – Mauritius. Trade facilitation and boosting intra-regional trade are vital for the prosperity and advancement of the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region and Customs therefore have a key role to play in the achievement of the strategic objectives of the region.
Customs also need to ongoingly reform and modernise, build capacity of officers, innovate and adapt to the changing trade patterns and business environment.
The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, made this statement during the opening ceremony of the 28th World Custom Organisation (WCO) ESA Governing Council Meeting at the Integrated Customs Clearance Centre of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) in Plaine Magnien, this morning.
The two-day meeting is being attended by Commissioner Generals, Heads and Commissioners of Customs of some 24 countries of the ESA region as well as by Observers from the SADC and COMESA.
The Director-General of the MRA, Mr Sudhamo Lal; the WCO’s Secretary-General, Dr Kunio Mikuriya; and other personalities were also present at the opening ceremony.
In his address, Minister Padayachy highlighted that the holding of the meeting resulted from the vision of the WCO which, as the global centre of Customs expertise and the voice of the international Customs community, had adopted a regional approach for its Capacity Building Strategy.
“The aim,” he pointed out, “is to promote the sharing, among nearby countries, of ideas and actions so as to achieve the same regional objectives, namely, economic growth and social development.
The Finance Minister underscored that this regional approach had led to the creation of Regional Training Centres (RTCs) in the six WCO regions over the world and as a result, Customs Officials from various countries, including Mauritius, could further consolidate links with one another.
He also expressed satisfaction with regards to the important role that RTC Mauritius was playing for the capacity building of Customs administrations of the ESA region. Furthermore, Dr Padayachy emphasised that the Mauritian Government was fully committed to fight against the scourge of drugs.
“In this context,” he stressed, “Government is providing unwavering support to the MRA to acquire the latest tools, equipment and technology in a bid to further enhance the operational capabilities of Customs officers and to better fight against the trafficking of illicit drugs and narcotics.
” The Minister also dwelt on the National Electronic Licensing System and on the Integrated Customs Clearance Centre, which, according to him, bore testimony of Government’s support to the MRA.
For his part, Mr Lal recalled that the Governing Council Meeting had the broad objective of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of ESA Customs administrations in revenue collection, facilitation of international trade, safeguarding national security, protecting society and the environment, and compiling international trade statistics.
“In order to achieve these objectives,” he indicated, “it is very important that the ESA Customs administrations modernise and automate their procedures, processes and systems, while implementing WCO’s international standards, recommendations, tools and instruments in support of Members’ national Customs legislation and practices.
He further outlined that several important issues were on the agenda of this meeting, among which, the New Regional Strategy for the period 2022-2025.
“The meeting will also deliberate on decisions of the 35th Regional Steering Group Meeting as well as the ESA Risk Management Compendium and Gender Equity, Equality and Diversity issues, amongst others,” he added.
As for Secretary-General Mikuriya, he recalled that he met Prime Minister Jugnauth on the previous day and that discussions focussed on, among others, how to make the country and the Customs Department more competitive following the progress achieved by the MRA so far.
He also stressed the importance of investing in human resources and of developing a pool of experts in different region so as to share experiences and good practices.
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