Provision

Heading/
Description

Previously notified definitive date for implementation

New definitive date for implementation requested

Article 10.4

Single Window

31 December 2025

31 December 2027

Reason for extension:

Seychelles benefited from Technical Assistance under the 11^th European Development Fund (11^th - EDF) for the implementation of certain Category B and C commitments. In addition to supporting the Single Window platform and facilitating seamless data exchange between customs and other government agencies, Seychelles needs to upgrade its ASYCUDA World (AW) System.

From September 2021 to May 2024, a project was undertaken to enhance the AW System. The primary goal was to foster economic growth by streamlining trade facilitation and expediting the harmonization and simplification of Customs procedures in line with WCO and WTO standards.

The major focus of the project was on integrating new modules into the AW System to improve the automation of customs processes and optimise clearance operations. These enhancements were aimed at providing modern IT solutions that could address evolving trade challenges.

Additionally, the project partially developed and implemented the Electronic Government, which laid the groundwork for future system development of the Single Window.

Following the completion of the 11^th EDF project in May 2024, the retention of the experts with technical support needed for the implementation of the Single Window needed to be addressed. Thus, the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) engaged the services of a group of consultants to sustain the progress and further develop the AW System.

The one-year contract of the Consultants ended on 23 June 2025; therefore, the SRC needs to find alternative funding and technical assistance to continue work on the enhancement of the AW systems and continue with the Single Window project.

Seychelles has and continues to face several challenges in effectively implementing the Single Window project. These are such as:

(i)_           The current version of the AW is struggling to keep up with the increasing demands of a dynamic trade environment. In its current form, the system does not fully support the latest international trade standards set by the WCO and WTO. And UNCTAD has informed that they will soon stop supporting the current AW 4.3.2 version. Therefore, it is of utmost urgency that Seychelles upgrade its AW system.

(ii)_          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 11 EDF projects and the upgrade of the AW system.

(iii)_          Seychelles also encountered issues obtaining timely responses from UNCTAD regarding the upgrade of the ASYCUDA system. Subsequently, upon the response from UNCTAD, financial issues were encountered as the cost of the upgrade was quite substantial, considering Seychelles' economic size. The SRC needed to identify alternate funding to finance the upgrade.

(iv)_         With the ending of the 11th EDF project in May 2024. Seychelles had to address the retention of the experts with technical support needed for the implementation of the Single Window, thus affecting the extended definitive date for the implementation of the Single Window.

(v)_          Moreover, there was a need to elaborate a plan for the recruitment of local programmers to work alongside the contractors (necessary for knowledge transfer and continuity).

Nevertheless, some of the projects have been completed, namely:

(i)_           The update of the Statutory Instrument of the Prohibited and Restricted Goods Regulations in the system, linking all goods to the latest WCO Tariff.

(ii)_          Integration of the latest WCO new tariff schedule.

(iii)_          Express courier module.

(iv)_         Manifest (for express courier) module.

(v)_          Electronic payment (E-Payment) module.

(vi)_         Excise bonded warehouse module.

(vii)_         Continuous technical training programmes.

Early 2025, SRC worked on an 18-month project for the upgrade of the AW, which will address technical and functional training, prototype development, system migration, and post-migration support.

As it relates to the implementation of the Single Window platform in particular, preliminary work has started. The SRC has put a programme together to begin meeting with the stakeholders who will connect to the Single Window platform to discuss the way forward. MoUs with some stakeholders are under discussion, and the process to connect stakeholders who are ready has started.

Still, the following needs to be addressed:

(i)_    SRC needs to secure funding and technical assistance to implement the Single Window Platform.

(ii)_   The establishment of a legal framework for governance of the processes for information and data exchange between the Seychelles Revenue Commission and the other principal stakeholders and Authorities.

(iii)_  The upgrading of AW System to version 4.4. The new version is designed to address existing system limitations by introducing advanced automation capabilities, enhanced data-driven risk management capabilities by offering a more dynamic selectivity feature, data analytics tools, and stronger compliance and flexibility features that align with the latest standards. The upgrade will strengthen the system's ability to support the Single Window platform, facilitating seamless data exchange between customs and other government agencies.

(iv)_  To ensure seamless functioning of the system, all the principal stakeholders and authorities' systems would need to be aligned with the current level of computerization and IT readiness of the stakeholders' administrative processes.

Considering 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 2027.