The International Customs Day 2024, under the theme chosen by the World Customs Organization (WCO), “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose” was celebrated yesterday morning , at the Integrated Customs Clearance Centre, in Plaine Magnien. The Director-General, MRA, Mr Sudhamo Lal; the Director of Customs, Mr Vivekanand Ramburun; the Head, WCO Container Control Programme, Mr Gille Thomas; the Deputy Head, UNODC, Mr Bob Van Den Berghe; and other personalities were present for this the event.
Event that was marked, by the official launching of the third edition of the Time Release Study by the Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Mr Dharam Dev Manraj, ,
On the same occasion, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) also signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance in view to establishing a Port Control Unit at the Custom House, in Port Louis.
Mr Manraj accentuated on the constantly evolving challenges faced by the customs administrations. Combatting the drugs and narcotics scourge, anti-money laundering and terrorism financing activities necessitates the creation of new partnerships as well as the enhancement of existing ones, he pointed out.
The Financial Secretary recalled that the setting up of the MRA in 2006, as part of the Tax Administration Reform, in a bid to foster efficiency in revenue administration and collection. On this score, he outlined a number of projects undertaken successfully by the MRA including the seizure of drugs and narcotics worth around Rs 6 billion since 2015 and the digitalisation of its services such as the e-filing of taxes.
He further dwelt on a number of financial schemes successfully implemented by the MRA, namely the Wage Assistance and Self-Employed Assistance Schemes, the Social Contribution (CSG) Income Allowance, and the Prime à L’Emploi Scheme, amongst others. As such, the MRA has become a cashless organisation, promoting ease of doing business, Mr Manraj indicated. Besides, he announced the construction, this year, of the Revenue House at the Côte d’Or Technopole.
For his part, Mr Lal commended the commitment of the MRA Customs Officers in facilitating legitimate trade, preventing the entry of threatening goods, and in engaging actively in the fight against drug trafficking. He recalled the interception of Rs 15,4 million of drugs on two Kenyan passengers on 31st of December last year. Moreover, he highlighted the imperativeness of the publication of the third edition of the Time Release Study, a WCO tool used to measure the actual time required for the clearance of goods, from the time of arrival until the physical release of cargo. Compared to 2020, the dwell time is 10 hours less in 2023, he remarked.
According to the Director-General of the MRA, the establishment of the Port Control Unit will ensure capacity-building in risk management, supply chain security and trade facilitation, to prevent the cross-border movement of illicit goods.
The commemorative ceremony concluded with the awarding of Customs officials and representatives of the public and private sectors with WCO Certificates of Merit.
