The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) has elected Seychelles to take up the presidency of the first customs Committee, ‘Seychelles Nation’ reports.
The elections took place late last week during the Committee’s first meeting held at the Savoy Seychelles Resort and SPA, Beau Vallon.
Heads of customs and other representatives across the Indian Ocean namely from Reunion, Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles attended the meeting.
The idea of the Committee came following discussions held in November 2022 in Reunion, between heads of the customs Administration of the five IOC member States.
The Committee aims at providing 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 also seeks 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.
Madagascar holds the post of vice-chair, while Comoros will be the rapporteur, the media notes. Mauritius in collaboration with Reunion, are responsible for the Secretariat.