A five-day regional seminar on ‘Developing a Risk-based Compliance Plan for Customs’ was inaugurated on Monday 2 February 2026, by Junior Minister of Finance, Mr. Dhaneshwar Damry, at the Integrated Customs Clearance Centre in Plaine Magnien. The event gathered customs officials from developing and emerging economies.
Organised by IMF AFRITAC South (AFS) and hosted by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA), the seminar aims to enhance Customs administrations’ capacity to adopt an Integrated Risk Management Approach. This approach is key to strengthening controls, encouraging voluntary compliance and facilitating trade.
In his keynote address, Mr. Damry commended the MRA for its ongoing capacity-building efforts to improve service delivery. He stressed the importance of a risk-based compliance plan for all government institutions, especially in light of Mauritius’ upcoming FATF review. He highlighted that effective implementation of key actions is critical for progress.
The Junior Minister reaffirmed the government’s focus on economic growth in 2026, emphasizing ongoing major projects poised to transform the economy. “We will strive to make significant progress through dedicated efforts”, he stated.
He also expressed gratitude to the IMF for selecting Mauritius as a regional training hub for Africa, noting that such capacity-building initiatives will foster inclusive growth and job creation. He reiterated Mauritius’ ambition to strengthen its role as a regional capacity-building centre.
Ms. Kate Chamley, Australian High Commissioner to Mauritius, reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to partnering with the IMF in supporting robust customs institutions across the region. She emphasized that technical assistance, capacity development and peer learning are vital tools for institutional strengthening.
Mr. Rohit Ramnawaz, Director-General of the MRA, welcomed the seminar as a timely initiative focused on identifying risks and translating risk analysis into practical compliance measures via a structured Compliance Improvement Plan.
He highlighted that risk management is a dynamic discipline requiring continuous learning, collaboration, and adaptability. At the MRA, effective risk management allows for smarter resource allocation, incentivizes compliance and reduces unnecessary interventions.
He concluded by underscoring the MRA’s goals to develop smarter, more agile, and resilient Customs administrations that safeguard society while supporting sustainable growth.