12.27.08
Seychelles makes a move to join WTO
Seychelles officials that deal with importing and exporting goods met experts from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with a view to learn more about how this organisation works.
The meeting is aimed at ensuring that Seychelles knows enough about the WTO before it enters into any formal agreement with it and becomes its member.
The workshop was officially launched on December 1, 2008. After opening a week-long workshop at the International Conference Centre, principal secretary for finance Ahmed Afif said that it was a very useful step to get all the partners together in order to assess fully what the impact would be, so that the jurisdiction is well-prepared to become a WTO member.
According to Afif, “in most island states like Seychelles, over 80% of what is consumed is imported directly or indirectly”, so, most of people in Seychelles have been involved in foreign trade. He also noted that the government tried to ease trade by removing the import monopoly, reducing tariffs on most goods, and doing away with import permits on over 90% of goods.
Also, Afif thanked the trainers from the WTO for coming to help Seychelles’ representatives.