Seychelles to host high-level anti-money laundering group next month |22 August 2018

Representatives from relevant ministries and agencies met yesterday, at the Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, to discuss the final details of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), scheduled to take place in Seychelles from September 2-8, 2018.

The aim of ESAAMLG is to combat anti-money laundering by implementing recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – an inter-governmental body established in 1989. The task force sets standards and promotes effective application of anti-money laundering legal and regulatory measures.

The meeting, which will take place at the Savoy Hotel, will host finance ministers and representatives from Kenya, Mauritius, Botswana, Uganda, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Seychelles among others.

And as the host country, Seychelles will be taking over the presidency from Tanzania; and Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne will be the next president of the ESAAMLG, whereas Philip Moustache will be the Task Force Chair. Minister Loustau-Lalanne will hold office for a period of one year.

The presidency of the council rotates among the member countries, currently on the basis of alphabetical order. The Council of Ministers is the key decision-making body of the ESAAMLG and consists of at least one ministerial representative from each member country.

Three (3) meetings are scheduled during September 2-8 meeting; the working groups to finalise the documents for the plenary and Council of Ministers Meetings will take place from September 2-4. From September 5-6, there will be the Task Force of Senior Officers Plenary Meeting, and on September 7 the Council of Ministers, which is also the highlight of the meeting. On Saturday September 8, there will be a Private Public Sector Forum, which will also be opened to the media. A press conference is also scheduled after the Forum.

This morning’s meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Seychelles Police, the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, department of Immigration, the Central Bank of Seychelles, department of Information, Communication Technology, the Financial Services Authority, the Health Services, the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, Seychelles Public Transport Corporation, Seychelles Revenue Commission, Seychelles Tourism Academy, and the Seychelles Tourism Board.