At the request of the Commissioner of Seychelles Customs Division (SCD), the WCO, with funding support from the Customs Cooperation Fund (CCF) of China, conducted a diagnostic support mission in Victoria, Seychelles, during the period 5 to 14 December 2022.

The mission focused on SCD’s overall reform and modernization agenda, particularly its ability to effectively contribute to the implementation of the Articles of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This activity was conducted under the framework of the WCO Mercator Programme and included discussions with the relevant Sections and Units within SCD, along with stakeholders from both the public sector and the business community.   

Through active engagement with SCD senior officials, the WCO team was able to make a comprehensive assessment of the situation within the Customs administration with regard to TFA implementation, highlighting areas where good progress had already been achieved and also identifying areas where further capacity building and technical assistance support may be required.

In collaboration with the WCO, SCD developed a Multi-Year (MY) Mercator Implementation Plan containing activities and performance indicators that will now form the basis for future actions to support effective implementation of the TFA. The Mercator Implementation Plan will also facilitate enhanced engagement with government partner agencies and private sector stakeholders involved in trade facilitation reforms.

SCD and the WCO team also worked together and conducted a Mercator Maturity Model assessment that provides an important baseline against which future TFA implementation progress or maturity can be effectively measured and reported. 

For more information, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.