Faced with the rise of drug trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing, and smuggling in the Indian Ocean, the states of the region have decided to strengthen their customs cooperation. It is in this context that the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) launched the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Customs Committee on Friday, 3rd October, during a ceremony at the Mer Rouge Custom House in Port Louis.
The new committee brings together the directors general of customs and representatives of the Comoros, Réunion, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, as well as the secretary general of the IOC, Edgard Razafindravahy, and several technical and financial partners.
Created during the 37th IOC Council of Ministers, this body is intended to be a permanent platform for exchange. It will work on information sharing, risk profiling, and the coordination of control actions. It will also contribute to the harmonisation of customs practices and facilitate legal trade in the region.
Rohit Ramnawaz, Director General of the MRA, emphasised the transnational nature of threats and their impact on economies and social development, highlighting the importance of collective action. Edgard Razafindravahy recalled the key role of customs administrations in protecting maritime territories and combating trafficking, highlighting the usefulness of single window systems and information exchange for regional economic integration.
Representatives from the Comoros, Réunion, Madagascar and Seychelles also spoke, calling for strengthening the Committee’s framework, involving the private sector and developing stronger cooperation mechanisms to secure trade and promote legal commerce.
SOURCE: lexpress.mu
