10.30.10
Posted in International Organisations, International relations at 12:03 pm by Robert Klien
Former President of Seychelles James Mancham is attending the European Centre for Peace Development’s (ECPD) 6th international conference on Human Security Concept Implementation that is held in Croatia.
The opening ceremony was attended by Professor Ivo Josipovic, President of the Republic of Croatia; Ivan Jakovic, President of the Istra region government; John Maresca, rector of the University for Peace established by the United Nations in Costa Rica; and Professor Albert Maes, vice-president of the ECPD Council and chairman of the conference.
Mancham was chosen to deliver an opening address at the conference. In his speech, Mancham highlighted the need for a new world leadership where money is dedicated to peacekeeping. It should be noted that he was recently elected as a member of the council of elders of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
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10.12.10
Posted in Business and Economy, International relations at 7:27 pm by Robert Klien
Since Seychelles launched its reform programme, the jurisdiction’s economic success has raised the expectations of other small countries to achieve similar results.
This was announced by a Caribbean finance minister during the Small States Forum that was held in Washington DC at the weekend. It was when Danny Faure, Seychelles’ Vice-President, gave a keynote presentation on Seychelles’ progress since the beginning of the reforms in November 2008.
The meeting on October 9 was attended by World Bank president Robert Zoellick. At the event, Faure thanked the international community for its support to Seychelles during the ongoing economic reform. He noted that other governments have shown an interest in Seychelles’ determination, economic programme as well as in the strategy used to tackle the country’s external debt.
According to Harold Lovell, the Finance and Economy Minister from Antigua and Barbuda, “the Seychelles case, where massive macro-economic reforms were undertaken without doing irreparable damage to social gains achieved, gives inspiration to a lot of our fellow small countries.”
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09.17.10
Posted in Business and Economy, International relations, Seychelles government, Tourism industry at 11:25 am by Robert Klien
President of Seychelles James Michel made an official visit to Spain at the invitation of HE Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, President of the Government of the Kingdom of Spain. During his two-day official visit, the President of Seychelles was accompanied by the Minister for Home Affairs, Environment, and Transport, Mr. Joel Morgan; the Secretary of State in the Office of the President, Mr. Barry Faure; the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Mr. Alain St. Ange; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, Ms. Jenifer Sinon.
Seychelles President James Michel has met with the President of Spain, Vice Presidents, and members of the Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain. With the members of Confederation, President Michel discussed the potential for the territory to become a business hub for Africa. By words of the President, this meeting will deepen the relations with the private sector in Spain.
The President spoke to Prime Minister Zapatero about opportunities for Spanish investment in fisheries and tourism projects in Seychelles. Spain’s technical mission in Seychelles will study possibilities of the use of solar power on the islands.
During the visit, it was announced that Seychelles Tourism Board would be opening a tourist office in Madrid, which will be engaged in many promotional activities in Spain.
President James Michel also had an audience with His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Following this meeting he said that during the audience they discussed many issues of mutual cooperation, the special friendship between the Republic of Seychelles and the Kingdom of Spain.
Seychelles and Spain signed Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation, the second MOU on Fisheries Cooperation, and the Declaration of Intentions in the Fight Against Piracy. The agreements were signed by Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport Mr. Joël Morgan and the Spanish Minister for Defense Mrs. Carmen Chacón.
By words of President Michel, Spain is prime partner of Seychelles, and these agreements will help to consolidate their partnership and extend the collaboration between the countries.
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09.11.10
Posted in International relations, Seychelles government, Seychelles legislation at 2:25 pm by Robert Klien
On Monday, September 6, 2010, the President of Seychelles James Michel met with Chen Zhili, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress (NPC), the top legislative body of China. During the meeting, both parties pledged to enhance bilateral ties between the Cayman Islands and China.
By words of Seychelles president, the successful visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Seychelles in 2007 has pushed the bilateral ties between the two countries to a new high. Also, in his speech President thanked China for its support in the socioeconomic development of Seychelles, and said that Seychelles are ready to strengthen cooperation with China both in the international and regional affairs, as well as to support the one-China policy.
The same day, the Chinese official met with Speaker of Seychelles’ National Assembly Patrick Herminie. Chen Zhili said that China’s NPC attaches great importance in developing friendly ties with Seychelles’ National Assembly, and is willing to strengthen the exchange and coordination between the legislation systems of the two countries.
In the year 2011, there will be the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Seychelles and China. The countries are enjoying close cooperation in the international and regional affairs.
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08.19.10
Posted in International Organisations, International relations, Seychelles government at 2:18 pm by Robert Klien
Seychelles has joined the group of countries that ratified the founding Rome statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the independent tribunal to try genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Seychelles will become its 112th member state on November 1, 2010.
In its statement, the ICC welcomed the decision of the country “to join the growing group of states determined to put an end to impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes.”
The International Criminal Court is operating in The Hague since 2002. Now the court is considering cases in five countries, including Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. Warrants have been issued by the ICC against 13 persons, most notably for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
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08.13.10
Posted in Financial Services, International Organisations, International relations, Seychelles government at 2:51 pm by Robert Klien
The Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) was signed between the Seychelles and the Netherlands. This is the first agreement of this kind for the Seychelles, but not the last one, the Seychelles government following its policy to develop Seychelles international business and financial services sector.
The Seychelles and the Netherlands have agreed to incorporate the OECD standard for such agreements into their TIEA. This will encourage tax authorities of both parties to exchange taxpayer information for specific purposes, including countering tax evasion and money laundering. Also, according to the agreement , neither tax authority can refuse to provide information solely because it does not require the information for domestic purposes, or because it is held by a bank or similar institution.
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07.29.10
Posted in International relations, Seychelles government at 12:41 pm by Robert Klien
The new Pakistani ambassador to Seychelles has said that he is looking forward to further enhance relations between Pakistan and Seychelles.
On July 13, Pakistani ambassador Muhammad Siddique presented his credentials to Seychelles’ President James Michel. Also, he met with Vice-President Danny Faure at State House. On July 14, he called on the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Herminie.
After his accreditation visit, Siddique described the cooperation between the 2 countries as very friendly. He also said that the possibilities for further agreements on trade, tourism, education, health and fisheries were discussed during the meeting.
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07.27.10
Posted in International relations, Seychelles government at 12:29 pm by Robert Klien
With a view to further strengthen the bilateral defence ties as well as to increase cooperation in anti-piracy operations, India’s Defence Minister A K Antony visited Seychelles.
The 2-day visit day to Seychelles started on July 18.
On his visit, Indian Defence Minister was accompanied by Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral D K Dewan.
The Defence Minister held discussions with the Seychelles leadership on bilateral defence cooperation and implementation of the provisions of the defence cooperation Memorandum of Understanding between Seychelles and India. Also, the 2 sides discussed various security issues that included the security situation in the Indian Ocean region and the spread of piracy in and from the Gulf of Aden.
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07.19.10
Posted in International relations at 7:49 pm by Robert Klien
On July 11, 2010, members of a joint management committee from Seychelles and Mauritius had a meeting aimed to discuss the administrative aspects of the eventual sharing of an extended seabed which is part of the Mascarene Plateau.
This meeting is the 2nd of its kind. It was visited by the head of the Seychelles delegation Dr Rolph Payet and the head of the Mauritian delegation Suresh Seeballuck.
Seychelles and Mauritius prepared to present their defence in August 2010 to the United Nations Commission for the joint management of this 400 000 km squares extended continental shelf (ECS).
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07.13.10
Posted in International Organisations, International relations, Seychelles government at 10:54 am by Robert Klien
On July 5, a delegation from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) met Vice-President and Minister for Finance and Trade Danny Faure and other high government officials.
On July 6, the WTO delegation held talks with Seychelles’ President James Michel at State House.
On July 7, the delegation met assembly speaker Dr Patrick Herminie and members of its international affairs committee.
The WTO delegation was headed by Hilda Al-Hinai, the chairperson of Seychelles’ WTO accession working party and Oman’s deputy ambassador at the world trade body. She came to have discussions with various stakeholders. The delegation was accompanied by Seychelles’ ambassador to the European Union Vivianne Fock-Tave and our chief negotiator for the WTO accession, Charles Morin.
Ms Al-Hinai said that the talks have shown a very high level of commitment from the government of Seychelles towards its accession to the WTO, and she believes that this will move things forward.
It is worth mentioning that the jurisdiction restarted the process of joining the WTO in 2008.
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