Green Customs Day: MRA wants to revamp image

The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) organised a Green Customs Day in the context of its 10thanniversary, whereby some 200 MRA employees planted a tree in an effort to make of the Customs and Port area a greener place and also launched a book on the History of Customs in Mauritius in the presence of President Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gurib-Fakim, lauded the evolution of the MRA since its inception adding that the Authority has over a short period of time transformed its image as well as the public perception of the intricacies of revenue administration in accordance with world best practices. The President also commended the action of planting trees undertaken by the MRA besides its main role which is that of revenue collection. According to her, such endeavours need to be encouraged, nurtured, promoted and replicated by other organisations as well as inculcated in the generations to come. For his part, the Director General of the MRA, Mr Sudhamo Lal, spoke of instilling a green culture among the MRA employees as well as sensitising them on the importance of plants for mankind. He enumerated various eco-friendly initiatives implemented by the MRA since its inception among which the paperless strategy through the promotion of e-filing of individual income tax returns which reached 97% in 2015 and the launching of the Mauritius Trade Link which also goes in line with the dematerialisation of customs documents. It will be recalled that for the year 2016 revenue collection by the MRA amounted to Rs 70 billion.