G/TFA/N/ SYC/1/Add. 4  
8 March  2024 
(24-2166) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM SEYCHELLES  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 7 March  2024, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Seychelles.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up on the notification d ated 8 February 2023  (G/TFA/N/SYC/1/Add. 3), Seychelles hereby 
submits a request for an extension of the definitive d ate for the following provision based on 
Article  17 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement  (WT/L/931 ). 
 
 
Provision  Heading/  
Description  Previously notified 
definitive date for 
implementation  New definitive date for 
implementation requested  
Article 10.4  Single Window  31 December 2024  
 31 December 2025  
Reason for extension:  
 
Seychelles had benefited from Technical Assistance under the 11th European Development Fund (11th-EDF) for 
the implementation of certain Category B and C commitments. Due to the COVID -19 pandemic, the Government 
imposed travel restrictions as safety measures. Therefore, this hindered consultants' mobility access to Seychelles, 
which delayed the 11th EDF projects.  
 
Seychelles also encountered issues in obtaining timely responses fr om UNCTAD regarding the upgrade of the 
ASYCUDA system, which is necessary for the eventual implementation of a single window system. Subsequently, 
upon the response from UNCTAD, financial issues were encountered as the cost of the upgrade was quite 
substan tial, bearing in mind Seychelles ' economic size. The Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) was required 
to identify alternate funding to finance the upgrade.  
 
Moreover, the issue of retention of expert programmers to work on the project and the recruitment o f local 
programmers to work alongside the contractors (necessary for knowledge transfer and continuity) were 
encountered.  
 
Presently, given the ending phase of the 11th EDF project scheduled for May 2024, the retention of the experts 
with the technical support needed for implementation of Single Window has yet to be determined completely; 
thus, this will affect the extended definitive date for implementation of the Single Wi ndow.  
 
Nevertheless, some of  the projects are close to the completion phase, namely, continued integration of the 
latest World Customs Organization (WCO) new tariff schedule, except for Single Window, which is yet to 
commence due to challenges and work del iverables needed to be undertaken herewith presented below.  
 
Firstly, Seychelles would need to implement the legal framework for governance of the processes for 
information and data exchange between the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) and the other pri ncipal 
stakeholders and authorities.  
 G/TFA/N/SYC /1/Add. 4 
 
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  Secondly, the modifications and integration of the ASYCUDA  World programs are needed, whereby the 
necessary activities are required for analysis, development of related interfaces and the modification of existing 
programs to ensure interoperability within the Single Window System.  
Thirdly, considering the current  level of computerization and IT readiness of the stakeholders ' administrative 
processes, of which are necessary to ensure the seamless functioning of the system, all the principal 
stakeholders ' and authorities ' systems would need to be in alignment.  
In light of the previous and current developments, Seychelles would like to request an extension of the 
extended definitive date of implementation for the Single Window to 31 December 2025.  
 
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