Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group, ESAAMLG, discusses details of 36th Task Force Senior Officials meeting and the 18th Council of Ministers Meeting with the Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning
May 15, 2018
Monday 14th May 2018, VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES: Seychelles is gearing up to hold this year’s Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) meeting in September while also preparing to take up presidency of the group.
To prepare for the high level meeting, the Seychelles’ Financial Intelligence Unit, FIU, the Ministry of Finance Trade, Investment and Economic Planning and member of ESAAMLG, are holding frequent preparatory meetings with a number of stakeholders to ensure that the event goes smoothly from start to finish.
In a meeting this morning Dr. Eliawony KISANGA, the Executive Secretary of ESAAMLG and his delegation provided details of the meetings to take place in Seychelles from the 2nd to the 8th September 2018. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Secretary of State, Patrick Payet, Special Advisor, Sitna Cesar, the Financial Intelligence Unit Director, Philip Moustache and other senior offices from both parties.
This year’s meeting will take place at Savoy Hotel, and will see the participation of Finance Ministers from the eastern and Southern Africa and an additional of about 400 other delegates. And as the hosting country, Seychelles will be taking over the presidency from Tanzania. Therefore, the next president of the ESAAMLG will be Minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, whereas Mr. Philip Moustache will be the Task Force Chair.
Three (3) meetings are scheduled during the 2nd to the 8th September; the Working Groups to finalise the documents for the plenary and Council of Ministers Meetings will take place from the 2nd to the 4th September. The 5th to the 6th September, the Task Force of Senior Officers Plenary Meeting, 7th September will be the Council of Ministers, the highlights of the meeting and the 8th September there will be a Private Public Sector Forum, which also be opened to the media. A Press Conference is also scheduled after the Forum.
This morning’s discussion focused on details of the meetings, accommodation, transport and other logistics. Minister Lalanne pointed out that he will ensure that everything runs smoothly for the meeting in September.
The aim of the group 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.
Dr. Eliawony KISANGA and his delegation are expected to leave Seychelles on Thursday.
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