The MRA has planned a program to celebrate International Customs Day in 2023 with the subject “Nurturing the Next Generation—Promoting a Culture of Knowledge-Sharing and Professional Pride in Customs”. For this occasion, the Mauritius Duty-Free Paradise (MDFP) and the Automatic Collection of Duties and Taxes by the MRA were both officially launched. The MRA and Mauritius Duty-Free Paradise both signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the same time.
Addressing the assistance, Dr Renganaden Padayachy underlined that the International Customs Day 2023 rightly honored the Customs profession. The Minister commended all Customs Officers for their dedication, hard work and professionalism, despite their difficult work conditions. According to the Minister, the young officers had specific competencies, talents, abilities, and knowledge, particularly in using advanced technology, digital tools, and processes which could be put to good use in the Customs environment.
The minister emphasised on the need for the Customs Department to leverage technology and digital solutions to implement effective controls and facilitate trade in this digital era. He added that Government was providing unflinching support to MRA Customs to invest in emerging technologies and techniques such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology and big data analytics to enhance risk management and fraud detection capabilities.
Minister Padayachy underlined the key roles of the Customs in trade, which was vital for the economy, and in preventing the entry of illicit drugs and narcotics, arms and ammunition that could, among emphasized the need for the Customs Department to leverage peace and harmony, and jeopardise safety and security.
Besides, the Minister reiterated his unflinching support to help MRA modernise Customs services with a view to facilitate trade and provide value-added services to its stakeholders. “Key projects,” he pointed out, “include the setting up of the Integrated Customs Clearance Centre to the tune of Rs 650 M as well as the Integrated Single Window for Trade project for which Rs 500 M has been earmarked.”
Mr Sudhamo Lal, the Director-General of the MRA outlined key projects in the pipeline namely: the setting-up of an Integrated Single Window for Trade project; a modern Central Control Room equipped with state-of-the-art technology for the monitoring of strategic locations of the port at the Custom House ; the automation of Coastwise Trade aiming to ensure better and reliable statistics pertaining to coastwise trade and in particular with the Island of Rodrigues; operationalising a scanner that will serve to scan passengers’ luggage at Port Mathurin Passenger Terminal in Rodrigues; the setting-up of the Visit, Board Search and Seizure Simulator (VBS3/Ship-in–a-box) facility; and the setting-up of a Central Scanning Room to centralise and manage the two scanners situated at the Mauritius Container Terminal, amongst others.
Automated System for the Collection of Duties and Taxes
The automated system for the collection of Duties and Taxes aims at simplifying the actual process of goods bought more than normal duty-free allowance by passengers at the MDFP and will facilitate duty free shopping by incoming and outgoing passengers including tourists.
Container Control Programme
The CCP aims at enhancing maritime security and safety in East Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region. It falls under the broader Ports Security and Safety of Navigation programme which is implemented jointly by the Indian Ocean Commission, the UNODC, the International Maritime Organisation and INTERPOL.
