12.17.11
Posted in Diplomatic missions, International relations at 4:46 pm by Robert Klien
Joseph Nourrice has been accredited as Seychelles’ high commissioner to Mozambique. On November 16, he presented his credentials to Mozambican President Armando Guebuza. Mr Nourrice is also Seychelles’ resident high commissioner in South Africa.
Mr Nourrice is Seychelles’ 2nd high commissioner since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the jurisdiction and Mozambique in 1983.
During his audience with President Guebuza, discussions centred on some of the common interests of the two countries of which piracy was prominently featured.
Mozambique’s President Guebuza expressed satisfaction at the level of relationship between the two countries as well as noted the need to further enhance co-operation at bilateral level in new emerging areas. It was said that with globalization cooperation within the region is becoming more important and, so it should be further developed at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
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08.24.11
Posted in Diplomatic missions, International relations at 3:32 pm by Robert Klien
On August 23, 2011, President James Michel and the Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce, met in Canberra to hold talks. The meeting was focused on trade, education, and conservation.
On the 2nd day of his state visit to Australia, President Michel was greeted in the Australian capital by Mrs Bryce. Following his arrival, the President visited the Australian War Memorial and laid a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier as well as observed the President inspecting a Guard of Honour minute of silence.
Governor-General Bryce and Seychelles’ President Michel discussed cooperation between Seychelles and Australia, in the fields of trade, education, and conservation. Mr Michel said that the traditional ties between Seychelles and Australia are strong; particularly as many Seychellois reside in Australia and contribute positively to society. Also, Seychelles and Australia are partners in ensuring better governance of their environmental assets and acting on climate change.
The meeting was attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jean-Paul Adam, the chief executive officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Alain St Ange, the vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles, Rolph Payet, and the Seychelles high commissioner to India, Dick Esparon, who is accredited to Australia.
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05.20.11
Posted in Diplomatic missions, Seychelles government at 6:04 pm by Robert Klien
When welcoming the Seychelles’ overseas-based ambassadors at State House on May 17, President Michel heard that Seychelles is well-respected abroad and that other countries listen when this jurisdiction offers guidance or ideas towards global efforts.
The overseas based ambassadors present at the meeting yesterday were Claude Morel (France), Ronny Jumeau (USA), Dick Esparon (India), Vivianne Fock Tave (Belgium), Joseph Nourrice (South Africa). Also, 2 ambassadors based in Seychelles – Maurice Loustau-Lalanne and Marie-Pierre Lloyd – where present. Patrick Pillay (England) and Philippe Le Gall (China) were the ambassadors who could not attend the meeting.
Claude Morel, the longest-serving ambassador, said: “Our contribution at bilateral, multilateral and also at non-governmental organisations’ levels is appreciated”.
During the annual meeting, the ambassadors informed Michel on the efforts being made by them and progress they have achieved.
Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Paul Adam said as Head of State, President Michel leads all diplomatic efforts so the ambassadors meet him and share ideas on what strategies to adopt. According to him, the meeting focused on piracy, small island states’ issues and climate change.
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01.29.11
Posted in Diplomatic missions, International relations at 7:04 pm by Robert Klien
In mid-January, Seychelles’ Vice President Danny Faure made an official visit to Oman. The threat that piracy poses to sea trade was one of the most significant issues on the agenda.
Faure was accompanied by Foreign Minister Jean-Paul Adam and director general for trade Melanie Stravens. During the 2-day visit, he had talks with Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmud al-Said.
According to the Office of the Vice-President, Oman and Seychelles have enjoyed long-standing diplomatic relations, and now the 2 jurisdictions are expanding their trade relations.
It should be reminded that Seychelles has bilateral agreements with Oman for air services and double taxation avoidance (DTA). Also, the 2 countries have agreements for the tourism and fisheries sectors signed in 2002 and 2010. A memorandum of understanding has been negotiated by the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry with its Omani counterparts, and it is to be signed soon.
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11.04.10
Posted in Business and Economy, Diplomatic missions, International Organisations at 3:19 pm by Robert Klien
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the economy of Seychelles is expected to grow by more than 6% in 2010 due to its government’s track record of sound fiscal and monetary policy management.
In May 2010, the IMF suggested that the economy of Seychelles has shown strong resilience to global financial shocks of the year 2009 and its economy is recovering faster than expected from measures taken to adjust it. In October 2010, the IMF mission assessed the Seychelles’ economy and stated that the Seychelles’ economy continues to recover strongly.
Jean Le Dem, leader of the IMF mission, said: “Its far-reaching economic program, supported by the IMF, under which the government removed all exchange restrictions, floated the currency, liberalized interest rates, introduced a modern monetary policy framework, and significantly tightened fiscal policy, has borne fruit. Inflation has fallen from over 30% in 2008 to low single digits and the exchange rate has stabilized. It also helped Seychelles successfully restructure most of its external debt obligations, returning Seychelles to a path towards sustainable debt levels.”
Le Dem suggested that prospects for 2011 are favourable. He also urged the jurisdiction to continue with its ambitious agenda of structural reforms, including the modernization of the tax system aimed to usher in a value-added tax (VAT). The government launched a comprehensive reform of the tax system with the 2010 budget, of which the 1st stage was the introduction of a revised Business Tax Act from January 1, 2010, while the 2nd stage has been the introduction, from July 1, 2010, of a withholding-based personal income tax (PIT) on wages to replace social security contributions. VAT will be introduced in Seychelles from January 1, 2012.
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06.17.10
Posted in Diplomatic missions, International relations, Seychelles government, Tourism industry at 6:48 pm by Robert Klien
On May 15, during a reception held at the Coral Strand Hotel, ambassador of Russia Mikhail Kalinin said that Russian investment in Seychelles is growing rapidly. The reception was held to mark Russia’s National Day.
Mr Kalinin said that Russian investment in Seychelles’ tourism industry now tops USD 250 million. He also added that the government of Russia has approved 2 more hotels to be built by Russian investment companies. He also said that Russian businessmen are investing in the preservation of Seychellois sites of environmental, cultural and historical value.
Mr Kalinin said that there are much more opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and they are to be explored. He called on Seychellois businessmen to establish direct links with their Russian counterparts who might offer many interesting projects important for the Seychellois economy.
According to the ambassador, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President James Michel regularly communicate and exchange messages on different issues, and Russia and Seychelles hold identical or similar positions on the major international matters.
Mikhail Kalinin said that Seychelles is becoming more and more popular among Russian tourists. Visitors from Russia now hold 4th place among tourists in Seychelles with more than 8 500 arrivals in 2009.
Kalinin welcomed the graduates of the Soviet/Russian institutes present at the ceremony. One of them was Minister for Community Development, Youth, Sports and Culture Vincent Meriton, who read President James Michel’s message. The message said: “Seychelles and the Russian Federation have a long history of cooperation and I would like, on behalf of the government of Seychelles, to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for all the forms of help provided, particularly in the fields of education, sports, culture and health. We hope that we will be able to benefit from similar offers in the future,” said Mr Michel in his message.
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06.01.10
Posted in Diplomatic missions, Seychelles government at 1:00 pm by Robert Klien
The President of Seychelles, James Michel, is planning to undertake a 3-day visit of India from June 1 to June 3, 2010. This will be his 2nd visit to India, the 1st one was in 2005.
The official spokesman of India’s government, Vishnu Prakash, said that as a preparatory to the visit, a number of new initiatives were being considered, which included a school library project, supply of buses, human resource development, technology development centre in Seychelles for small and medium enterprises. According to him, India has been cooperating closely with Seychelles, assisting them in training, including that of diplomats.
Prakash said: “Close to 10% of the population in Seychelles is of Indian origin. Their currency is called Seychelles Rupee. We are also exploring now possibilities to enhance our synergies. A business delegation from Seychelles is accompanying the President to precisely do so”.
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11.25.09
Posted in Diplomatic missions, International relations at 3:19 pm by Robert Klien
A team from the African Development Bank (AfDB) has recently ended a 2-day visit to Seychelles. The visit was aimed at discussing new bonds to be issued.
Advance talks have been held by the mission with the authorities. The talks regarded request for a partial guarantee to be attached to the new bonds. These will result from Seychelles’ forthcoming external debt exchange offer. As part of this offer, holders of eligible claims will be invited to tender their instruments for new bonds – these are holders who will include the 9.125% Eurobond due in 2011.
The AfDB is expected to complete its review of the partial guarantee proposal in the next few weeks. The government intends to launch the exchange offer shortly.
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11.13.09
Posted in Diplomatic missions, International relations at 11:41 am by Robert Klien
At the end of October, Chinese Minister for Culture Cai Wu was on a 3-day official visit to Seychelles. During this visit, he held talks with President James Michel and Minister Vincent Meriton.
Mr Cai was leading a delegation at the invitation of his Seychellois counterpart Mr Meriton. This visit formed part of the Chinese Culture in Focus 2009 programme from April until the end of October. The programme was aimed to promote cultural exchanges between China and African countries.
The Chinese team had a chance to discuss and share views on further improving cultural exchanges and cooperation with their Seychellois counterparts.
It should be mentioned that diplomatic relations between Seychelles and China were opened many years ago, and since that cultural ties have been substantially developing. In 1983, the 2 countries signed an agreement of cultural cooperation. Mr Cai noted that recent visits by President James Michel to China and President Hu Jintao to Seychelles have further strengthened bilateral relations between the countries and boosted cultural cooperation.
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09.17.09
Posted in Diplomatic missions, International relations at 7:01 pm by Robert Klien
On September 11, 2009, the 10th meeting of the Governors’ Consultative Committee (GCC) of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) board of governors was held in Tunis. Seychelles was represented at this meeting.
The committee was meeting with a view to consider proposals by the AfDB’s management for the 6th General Capital Increase (GCI).
It is worth noting that the AfDB board recently approved several fast crisis mechanisms. But this has led to a quicker consumption of the resources of the bank as well as accelerated demand for extra funding. Therefore, the bank started negotiating a 6th GCI much earlier than planned.
At the meeting, Seychelles was represented by Central Bank governor and AfDB alternate governor for Seychelles Pierre Laporte and executive director for Seychelles at the AfDB Peter Sinon.
The member countries of the GCC are as follows: Seychelles, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Congo, Egypt, France, Libya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Zimbabwe.
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