The Seychelles AfCFTA implementation strategy is finally online. AfCFTA implementation strategies are policy documents that define strategies for expediting the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and identify risks and opportunities arising from such implementation. They are based on a decision adopted on 15 May 2018 by the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Addis Ababa, which urged the African Union member States to prepare national strategies and implementation plans “to identify the key trade opportunities, current constraints and steps required to take full advantage of the African market", including modalities for increasing trade performance, map country priority sectors, and identify opportunities for regional and global value chain integration. Such strategies have been adopted by several African States and RECs (IGAD, EAC and ECOWAS, while the SADC strategy is under development), and they identify the priority actions that must be undertaken in the short to medium term in order to advance the AfCFTA. Desiderio Consultants was involved in its elaboration on behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, that supported the Seychelles Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade in its development.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat completed the third Trade Policy Review of Sierra Leone, the third since the country acceded to the Organization. Trade Policy Reviews are an exercise, mandated in the WTO agreements, in which member countries' trade and related policies are examined and evaluated at regular intervals to verify their compliance with WTO rules. Significant developments that may have an impact on the global trading system are also monitored. The trade policy review of Sierra Leone depicts a situation of a country that is making strong efforts in implementation of reforms aimed at improving the business environment and facilitating trade. Customs transitioned from the IT system ASYCUDA++ to ASYCUDA World in January 2019, and a risk management system is in place to focus customs controls on high-risk consignments. However, a large proportion of shipments still undergo physical inspections, which undermines the intended efficiency of the risk management approach. In 2020, an Electronic Single Window was introduced to streamline procedures in import processes.

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