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Seychelles and the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China (SAMR) signs MOUs

May 07, 2019

This morning the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China (SAMR) and the Ministry of Finance, Trade Investment and Economic Planning signed two (2) Memorandum of Understanding at Liberty House.

The signing was done by the Minister for Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, Maurice Loustau Lalanne on behalf of the government of Seychelles and H.E Mr. ZHANG Mao, Minister for State Administration for SAMR of the People’s Republic of China. One MOU is relates to SAMR and the Trade Division of the MFTIEP, which will encourage cooperation in the fields of trade development. And the other between SAMR and the Fair Trading Commission, aiming to encourage cooperation in the fields of competition policy, consumer protection and market surveillance, such as holding high-level meetings, to determine activities of mutual interest and make work plans, workshops and conferences to discuss issues of mutual interest and best practices, exploring the possibility of mutual visits of staffs and/or experts and personnel training. 

In a closed-door meeting held before the signing, Minister Lalanne noted that the good trade relations between Seychelles and China is one that is highly encouraged and which is being taken into account in the new MOU, and which will allow for better monitoring of goods entering both markets and ensuring that trade is enhanced. Discussions were also based on tourism, agriculture, fisheries, capacity building, aquaculture amongst other issues. Minister lalanne described the Seychelles-China relations as fruitful and valuable.

And for his part, H.E Mr. ZHANG Mao also described the relationship betwen the two countries as important and also noted that last year Seychelles has signed the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative is a development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in 152 countries and international organizations in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America and Africa.

H.E Mr. ZHANG Mao says that he is impressed with our country's protection of the environment and that Seychelles has a lot of potential in the area of trade. And he has also noted that more tourists from China will visit Seychelles.

Also present at the signing was Mr. Francis LEBON, Chief Executive Officer of the Fair Trading Commission (FTC), Ms. Cillia MANGROO, Principal Secretary for Trade and other officials from the Ministry, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

 After the signing, H.E Mr. ZHANG Mao and his delegation visited the FTC.

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