Seychelles First-Ever Business Directory Published
Seychelles First-Ever Business Directory Published
Seychelles First-Ever Business Directory Published
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Y O U R I N V E S T M E N T F A C I L I T A T O R<br />
MARCH 2006 ISSUE 1 • VOLUME 2<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> <strong>First</strong>-<strong>Ever</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Directory</strong> <strong>Published</strong><br />
he <strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau has published the <strong>Seychelles</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Directory</strong>. This<br />
T2006 edition, the first of its kind to be published in the country provides<br />
comprehensive details of over 200 local businesses, contacts of all Government agencies,<br />
as well as resident diplomatic missions, consulate representatives in <strong>Seychelles</strong> and various<br />
associations. The directory is an annual publication and it will be circulated worldwide.<br />
The Bureau would like to take this opportunity to thank all the businesses and all the<br />
stakeholders who have contributed to the realisation of this directory.<br />
SIB would also like to extend a personal invitation to those businesses who did not<br />
participate in the first one, to register in order for them to feature in the 2007 edition as<br />
this will be a good opportunity for them to promote their products and services.<br />
The directory can also be accessed on the SIB website (www.sib.sc).<br />
The newly published SIB<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Directory</strong><br />
................................................................................................................................................<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong>: Your <strong>Business</strong> Guide<br />
<strong>Business</strong>-Match Making Opportunities<br />
s part of its promotional efforts, SIB has published a business<br />
Ainformation pack entitled: <strong>Seychelles</strong>: Your <strong>Business</strong> Guide.<br />
The guide serves to provide potential investors with useful<br />
information that can assist them to start and conduct business in<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong>. It contains information on many pertinent issues<br />
including: Immigration, Registration and Incorporation of<br />
Companies, Licensing, Taxation, Social Security, Insurance,<br />
Customs and Trade, Banking, Manpower, Incentives, Land and<br />
Basic cost of Operation.<br />
The Pack also carries several other business promotional<br />
materials including the SIB flyer, the <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Directory</strong> 2006, the<br />
Investment Code of <strong>Seychelles</strong> Act 2005, the incentives such as<br />
Tourist Incentive Act , Fisheries and Agriculture Incentive Acts.<br />
re you thinking of starting a new business but would like to do<br />
Aso in partnership with someone else Are you an existing<br />
business with plans to expand, but do not have the capital, or<br />
expertise to do so<br />
Since the launching of the SIB's website foreign and local<br />
businesses and individuals have shown their interest for partners<br />
in the following business areas: fishing, tourism, agriculture,<br />
industrial and IT.<br />
SIB has also received requests from overseas companies seeking<br />
to establish trade relations with local partners, to include<br />
dealers and importers of various commodities.<br />
For those interested and for ease of submission, the form can be<br />
filled online through the SIB website (www.sib.sc) under the<br />
section Investment Opportunities/<strong>Business</strong>-Match Making. The<br />
submitted details will then be posted on SIB website for free<br />
promotion. Potential partners or existing businesses interested<br />
would then contact you directly to discuss business further.<br />
2<br />
3<br />
• Editorial: J A Nourrice (SIB)<br />
• SIB Project/Status by category<br />
• Investment Code Act 2005 launched<br />
• State-of-the-Nation Address (2006)<br />
• <strong>Seychelles</strong> Maritime Security<br />
4<br />
5<br />
• President Michel’s<br />
official visit to Qatar<br />
• Interview with Peter<br />
Durup (MD-Kokonet)<br />
• Protection of Sea<br />
Cucumber<br />
6<br />
• New Fisheries Committee<br />
• Import Licence Fee reduced<br />
• More financial support<br />
from BADEA<br />
• Commercial Bldg. Guideline<br />
• SEEP goes Online<br />
7<br />
8<br />
• Int’l Agreement (Updates)<br />
• African Union (AU) Summit<br />
• Int’l. Relations: Foreign<br />
Ambassadors accredited<br />
• WAIPA Conference
2<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2<br />
.....................................................................................<br />
EDITORIAL<br />
elcome to the 1st edition of the newsletter<br />
Wfor the first quarter of 2006.<br />
Last year had been a challenging year for the<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau and amid its many<br />
constraints, it succeeded in meeting its strategy of<br />
streamlining and expediting the processing of<br />
investment projects. This will be further<br />
consolidated with the Investment Code Act which<br />
came into force in January 2006 and once again SIB is<br />
calling on all its working partners to work closely<br />
together to fulfill the obligations under the Act.<br />
Tourism remained the pre-dominant sector with the<br />
most projects submitted to SIB in 2005 and the trend<br />
continued in the first quarter of 2006. Investment<br />
possibilities exist in other sectors including<br />
industrial, commercial, agricultural, fisheries and<br />
health-related projects and SIB is putting a lot of<br />
emphasis in an effort to attract new and viable<br />
projects. This year looks even more promising and<br />
SIB will continue to explore and evaluate potentials<br />
to further enhance the economic base and the<br />
investment climate in the country. Through its<br />
website, members of the public can be apprised of<br />
the investment opportunities available and<br />
potential business match-making through joint<br />
ventures. Investment by Seychellois continues to<br />
increase and the Bureau is encouraging more<br />
Seychellois to take the opportunity to invest more<br />
either alone or through joint venture possibilities.<br />
In its quest to turn <strong>Seychelles</strong> into a viable business<br />
destination, SIB is working closely with other<br />
international institutions such as FIAS and UNIDO<br />
and participates in international forums. As a new<br />
member of WAIPA, SIB was represented at its 11th<br />
annual meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland at the<br />
beginning of March 2006.<br />
SIB moved to its new premises late last year which<br />
provide a more conducive environment. The<br />
opening of the office on Praslin is to further bring the<br />
services close to the business community as<br />
facilitation is the cornerstone of our raison d'être. In<br />
its endeavour to strive for excellence, SIB is<br />
committed to equip its small but dynamic team with<br />
the necessary training and exposure both on the<br />
local and international fronts in order to continue to<br />
deliver an efficient, professional and quality service<br />
to our clients.<br />
As we celebrate <strong>Seychelles</strong>, let us make 2006 a year<br />
of notable achievement on the quality of investment<br />
with long term sustainability.<br />
General News<br />
SIB Project/Project Status by Category<br />
SIB PROJECT BY CATEGORY<br />
PROJECT STATUS BY CATEGORY<br />
% OF PROJECTS<br />
100<br />
80<br />
60<br />
40<br />
20<br />
0<br />
54%<br />
15% 4%<br />
Tourismrelated<br />
Industrial<br />
SECTOR<br />
12%<br />
or the year ending December 2005, SIB received 268 project propo-<br />
Fsals of which a total of 203 projects amounted to an investment value<br />
of SR5,165,491,352 were approved.<br />
Between January and March 2006, 52 projects were submitted to the<br />
Bureau. These include tourism-related (27), industrial (6), Commercial/residential<br />
development (7), art & craft (1), IT-related (2), transportation<br />
(1) and others (8).<br />
Based on the above figures, tourism-related projects to include hotels,<br />
tourist-guide, hire craft restaurant/cafeteria and watersports) remains<br />
the most submitted.<br />
Out of the 52 new projects received by SIB for the first quarter of 2006,<br />
100% of the IT-related and import zone/duty free projects, over 80% of<br />
the industrial and commercial/residential development, 60% of the<br />
tourism-related projects and over 40% of the others were approved. The<br />
remaining projects are in various stages of processing.<br />
2%<br />
13%<br />
Commercial/<br />
Residential<br />
development<br />
IT related<br />
IT related project<br />
Industrial<br />
Art & Craft<br />
Commercial / Residential /<br />
Mix Use Development<br />
Tourism-related<br />
Others<br />
Approved<br />
Others<br />
The launching of the<br />
Investment Code Act 2005<br />
Import Zone<br />
& Duty Free<br />
Not Approved<br />
n 24th January 2006, the <strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau organised a<br />
Omeeting to introduce the Investment Code Act 2005 to the public<br />
sector and consulting agencies. The meeting which was through a<br />
working session looked at the administrative and legal implications that<br />
the Code would bring.<br />
J A NOURRICE<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau (SIB)<br />
The Act, which came into force on 16th January 2006 seeks to provide a<br />
conducive business environment for both local and foreign investors and<br />
also safeguard their interest in order to encourage a greater flow of<br />
investment and re-investment in the <strong>Seychelles</strong>.
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2<br />
General News .................................................................................................<br />
3<br />
STATE-OF-THE-NATION ADDRESS<br />
2006 HIGHLIGHTS<br />
President James Michel presented his second state-of-the-<br />
Nation address on 28th February 2006.<br />
Below is a summary of the speech vis-à-vis the new<br />
measures that the Government will be implementing in its<br />
continuous effort to create and promote an enabling<br />
investment/business environment in the <strong>Seychelles</strong>.<br />
(For the full version of the speech, visit: www.sib.sc)<br />
Trades tax reduction on through-puts, semi-finished goods<br />
and certain capital items for small businesses;<br />
Exemption on business tax for businesses earning less than<br />
SR 250,000 profit per annum;<br />
The setting up of a stock-brokering company;<br />
The introduction of a competition policy;<br />
The reviewing of certain legislation including the Companies<br />
Act, Licensing Act, Tourism Incentives Act, Employment<br />
Act;<br />
The establishment of an insurance scheme for farmers;<br />
The updating of the Anti-Money Laundering Act;<br />
The introduction of a Human Resources Development Council<br />
Act.<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Maritime Security<br />
ome 30 participants representing both the public and the<br />
Sprivate sector attended a 3-day workshop on maritime<br />
security organised by the Maritime Safety Administration in<br />
collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation<br />
(IMO). The objective of the seminar was to continue the<br />
awareness of the implementation of the International Ship and<br />
Port Security (ISPS) code and to maintain the security standard<br />
achieved or even make it better to continue to attract ship<br />
owners and operators to use Port Victoria.<br />
The code came into force on 1st July 2004 which is mandatory<br />
under the Safety of Life at Sea convention and it is the duty of<br />
governments, port authorities and shipping companies to<br />
implement to ensure the security of the global shipping network.<br />
Both the commercial port of Victoria and the fishing port were<br />
certified ISPS compliant in 2004 and 2005 respectively.<br />
President James Michel's<br />
official visit to Qatar<br />
n February 2006, the President visited the State of Qatar,<br />
Iat the invitation of the Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheik<br />
Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, where he held talks with high<br />
level officials. Amongst topics discussed were the<br />
possibilities to further enhance investment opportunities<br />
from Qatar into <strong>Seychelles</strong>.<br />
..................................................................<br />
Inflation rate decreased<br />
he National Statistics Bureau (NSB) recorded a drop in<br />
Tthe inflation rate for the year 2005. According to the<br />
Retail Price Index for January 2006, the average rate of<br />
inflation for the twelve months ending December 2005 was<br />
0.9% compared to 3.9% in 2004 and 3.3% in 2003. The<br />
inflation rate remained below 4% throughout the year 2005.<br />
..................................................................<br />
Consumer Protection Unit created<br />
onsumers who feel their rights have been abused, now<br />
Chas an office where they can go to lodge their grievances<br />
and complaints. A new unit was created in December 2005<br />
under the Department of Finance and its principal role is to<br />
enforce the Consumer Protection Act (1997). This unit will<br />
complement the work of NATCOF. Their main tasks will focus<br />
on eliminating unfair and deceptive practices in the<br />
marketplace and to ensure that products and services being<br />
sold to consumers are safe and of good quality. The office of<br />
the secretariat is located on the first floor of the Orion Mall<br />
and they can be reached on:<br />
Tel No: 321 018 • Fax No: 323 336.<br />
..................................................................<br />
Workshop on Wood Treatment<br />
group of artisans attended a workshop organised by<br />
ASEnPA. The aim of the workshop was to sensitise the<br />
artisans on the safe methods to treat their wooden items for<br />
export. They were also introduced with the new International<br />
Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 15 (ISPM 15).<br />
This standard provides guidelines to regulate wood packaging<br />
materials used in international trade to prevent the<br />
risk of introducing wood pests in other countries.<br />
..............................................
4 <strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2<br />
.................................................................. Private Sector Corner<br />
SIB Interview with<br />
Mr. Peter Durup - GM<br />
Kokonet<br />
Kokonet has been in existence for 5<br />
years. The company is primarily an<br />
Internet Service Provider and its core<br />
product is the broadband wireless<br />
Internet services which at present covers most of Mahé<br />
Island. Kokonet is also a licensed Voice Over the Internet<br />
Protocol (VoIP) operator and has just recently introduced<br />
the new KOKOtalk voice service.<br />
What are the strong points of your business<br />
Two of Kokonet main strengths are its well established wireless<br />
network which covers most of Mahé Island and its small team of<br />
dedicated, reliable and knowledgeable workforce. Together it<br />
provides its Wireless Internet services directly to the customers<br />
without the need of third party involvement.<br />
How is Kokonet competing against other Internet service<br />
providers<br />
We see competition as good for both parties. The customers<br />
benefit from quality products and competitively priced value<br />
for money products whilst the service providers are motivated<br />
into delivering superior services in order to drive revenues.<br />
Being a proactive company we have always brought products<br />
that ease customer services and requirements. We have<br />
recently introduced more transparent pricing and features for<br />
our internet packages, VoIP packages at cost saving prices for<br />
international calling and a Direct Debit scheme in conjunction<br />
with Barclays Bank to facilitate subscribers' bill payments. As a<br />
small, but flexible company we stay in touch with our<br />
customers and strive to give them what they are looking for, i.e.<br />
a combination of good services at affordable prices delivered by<br />
the latest technologies. Often this tends towards personalised<br />
products and services.<br />
What are the factors holding back Internet development in<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
Geographically, we are isolated from the major Internet superhighways<br />
of Europe and America. Our means of connecting to<br />
these backbones are through satellite access. The inherent<br />
laten-cies of satellite communications and the high cost of<br />
satellite bandwidth are some of the most noticeable factors<br />
that affect the development of Internet services in <strong>Seychelles</strong>.<br />
Is there enough support for Internet development in<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
The authorities are very much aware of the importance of the<br />
Internet for the future economic and social development of the<br />
country. To say that this translates into full out support would<br />
probably be an exaggeration. There is still too much<br />
bureaucracy in the regulation of the industry that can have<br />
stifling effect on growth and innovation.<br />
What do you think could be done<br />
The authorities should act more as partners than just<br />
regulators.<br />
What prompted the setting up of KOKOtalk<br />
KOKOtalk is what the customers have been compelling ISPs to<br />
make available. As the drive to cut cost whilst having a more<br />
affordable, but quality voice service alternative to the costly<br />
traditional Telco's product, Kokonet decided to deliver a much<br />
sought after commodity to meet the market expectations.<br />
KOKOtalk is a quality broadband phone service for voice, fax and<br />
email to SMS using devices such as softphones, IP phones, Wi-Fi<br />
phones and analogue phones. It will be able to interconnect to<br />
any PSTN and GSM licensee.The KOKOtalk number range is<br />
47xxxx. Calls between KOKOtalk devices are free whilst<br />
international calls are 50% cheaper than the normal international<br />
call rates presently available. Customers will be<br />
charged a SR50.00 monthly subscription fee for the service.<br />
In your opinion, how would you describe the development of<br />
Internet in <strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
Internet has evolved from a cold war idea in the early 70s to the<br />
well-known information superhighways of today. Our<br />
development is such today that many of our major businesses<br />
are dependent on the Internet due to its high cost saving<br />
aspects. The hospitality industry is one such sections of our<br />
economy that has taken full advantages of the Internet services.<br />
I must say that we now live in an Internet age in <strong>Seychelles</strong>. It is<br />
the future of the generations to come in every wake of the<br />
business arenas and our daily lives. But, there will be an obvious<br />
pitfall in that as we make maximum use of this versatile tool, it<br />
may create a second class citizen for those who will have limited<br />
or no access to it. For business, this may result in lost opportunities.<br />
What are your future plans<br />
Kokonet's aims are to spread the use of Internet throughout the<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong>, to provide an affordable and competitively priced<br />
product using the latest in technologies and to offer the widest<br />
possible range of IP-enabled product and services.<br />
As far as the Internet is concerned, where do you see us, say in<br />
10 years, 20 years, 50 years<br />
Considering the rate of technological developments, in the next<br />
10-20 years, I expect that <strong>Seychelles</strong> will have then been<br />
connected to those high-end superhighways through a global<br />
fibre network or some next-generation medium.This will permit<br />
us to network organisations such as the business communities,<br />
schools, health services, emergency services, other civil<br />
services, etc… cheaply and provide them with ultra high data<br />
processing and throughputs for the mutual benefits of our<br />
society.
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2<br />
Sectoral News ....................................................................................<br />
The Protection of Sea Cucumber<br />
he <strong>Seychelles</strong> Fishing Authority organised a stakeholders'<br />
Tmeeting on 10th February 2006 to discuss rules governing sea<br />
cucumber fishing, in order to avoid the need for a third closure of<br />
that fishery.<br />
The meeting which grouped local fisherman, SFA experts and<br />
members of the Sea Cucumber Advisory and Management<br />
Committee, were to tackle the problem of illegal sea cucumber<br />
fishing and fishing licence abuses. Amongst issues discussed<br />
were the licence conditions, transfer of licences, record keeping<br />
and illegal fishing.<br />
The Sea Cucumber Advisory and Management Committee was<br />
formed following a two-year Sea Cucumber Stock Assessment and<br />
Management Project, started in 2003 and which was intended to<br />
conduct a stock assessment of that resource from which a<br />
management plan could be drawn. That project funded by FAO<br />
presented its preliminary findings in June 2005, of which the<br />
need to create the Committee was the main recommendation.<br />
.......................................................................<br />
New Fisheries Committee Launched<br />
SFA takes control of the<br />
Baie Ste. Anne Ice Plant<br />
5<br />
he <strong>Seychelles</strong> Fishing Authority (SFA) has recently took over<br />
Tthe management of the Ice Plant at Baie Ste Anne, Praslin,<br />
which was under private management.<br />
The ice plant which has a production capacity of 4 tonnes per day<br />
and a storage capacity of 10 tonnes is being refurbished and will<br />
be refitted with a new compressor and other accessories. These<br />
improved facilities will benefit the fishing communities of both<br />
Praslin and La Digue, and once the plant becomes re-operational<br />
there will be new opening hours and a revision in the price of ice.<br />
The project is being financed by the Overseas Fisheries<br />
Cooperation Foundation (OFCF) of Japan.<br />
.......................................................................<br />
<strong>Business</strong>es to save on Employer's<br />
Social Security Contribution<br />
ollowing the announcement by the President in the 2006<br />
FBudget address, the government has set up a Fisheries<br />
Development Committee which will prepare a 5-year strategic<br />
plan for the further consolidation and development of <strong>Seychelles</strong>'<br />
fishing sector. The committee comprises of members from both<br />
the public and private sector and they will be assisted in their<br />
work by an EU consultant.<br />
.......................................................................<br />
Fishing infrastructure project<br />
bid for Japanese Funding<br />
eychelles is bidding for an award of around $6 million from the<br />
SJapanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fund the<br />
construction of fishing facilities on Mahe.<br />
Meetings were held in January 2005 between Fisheries officials<br />
from the Department of Natural Resources and members from<br />
JICA to review the project proposal. The project, if approved,<br />
will be the construction of fishing port infrastructure to include a<br />
slipway and an ice plant on zone 6 at Providence and another ice<br />
plant at the Bel Ombre artisanal port.<br />
A decision is expected from the Japanese government in July<br />
2006.<br />
s part of measures to boost employment opportunities and<br />
Abusiness development in <strong>Seychelles</strong>, the Government has<br />
reviewed the social security payments by employers in all<br />
sectors. The social security contribution has been reduced by 5%<br />
for the salary range of R2001 to R10,000.<br />
There are four progressive rates which are used to calculate the<br />
contribution. These are the 10% brackets covering salaries from<br />
zero to R1,000, the 20% bracket from R1,001 to R2,000, the 35%<br />
bracket from R2,001 to R10,000 and 40% bracket from R10,001 to<br />
R12,000. The reduction which took effect in January 2006 will<br />
benefit those falling in the 35% bracket.<br />
.......................................................................<br />
Import licence fee reduced<br />
mporters and businesses are to benefit from a reduction in the<br />
Iannual import licence fee from R5,000 to R1,000 . This is part<br />
of the Government's plan to reduce the cost of doing business in<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong>. The reduced rate was announced in the budget<br />
address on 30th November 2005 and took effect on 1st January<br />
2006.
6 <strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2<br />
................................................................................................ Sectoral News<br />
More financial support from BADEA<br />
he Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in<br />
TAfrica (BADEA), who was on an official visit in the country from<br />
January 29 to February 2 2006 has commended the Government of<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> on the way it has invested the finances that the bank has put at<br />
its disposal.<br />
BADEA was established in 1974, with the objective of strengthening the<br />
economic, financial and technical cooperation between the Arab and<br />
African countries and started its operation in <strong>Seychelles</strong> in the 1980s.<br />
Since then the bank has financed 7 projects.<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> will benefit with new financial agreement from BADEA through<br />
a line of credit for private sector development and the financing of<br />
infrastructure on Perseverance Island.<br />
.................................................................................<br />
SEEP goes online<br />
eychelles' small establishments will finally receive worldwide exposure<br />
Swith the launching of the online <strong>Seychelles</strong> Secrets site. The Small<br />
Establishment Enhancement Programme (SEEP), initiated by the<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Tourism Board (STB), groups together small holiday properties,<br />
vetted by STB staff for cleanliness, comfort, décor, value for money and a<br />
range of other criteria, with a view to creating and maintaining a stock of<br />
high standard, yet affordable accommodation for tourist visitors. The<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Secrets site will also allow tourists travelling to <strong>Seychelles</strong> to<br />
book via the internet.<br />
The website address is: www.seychellessecrets.com<br />
.................................................................................<br />
Long Island will get new 5-Star Hotel<br />
ourists visiting <strong>Seychelles</strong> will continue to have more choices for<br />
Taccommodations when a new luxury hotel is built on Long Island.<br />
The Shangri-La Resort and Spa which is being promoted by TriGranit<br />
Development Corporation will comprise of 100 guestrooms and amongst<br />
the many facilities proposed to be offered is the introduction of the first<br />
cable car in <strong>Seychelles</strong>.<br />
Guidelines for<br />
Commercial Buildings<br />
eychelles Investment Bureau has received several<br />
Sproposals relating to the construction of apartment<br />
blocks, office buildings and so forth.<br />
The application process to construct a commercial/<br />
residential building has been simplified to facilitate the<br />
potential investor. The investor has to submit a project<br />
proposal along with all the relevant plans including<br />
location and site plans (A3 format), together with the<br />
completed application form for environmental<br />
authorization (EA) to <strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau .<br />
Within 30 days the investor should have a final official<br />
decision on his/ her proposal, in the event that no<br />
further clarification or information is required in the<br />
intermediate period. All the necessary conditions that<br />
would apply to the development will be forwarded to<br />
the investor/ promoter with the letter. This helps the<br />
investor when submitting his/ her final detailed plans<br />
to the Planning Authority.<br />
For further information visit SIB's website at<br />
www.sib.sc or telephone 295500.<br />
............................................................<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Diving Workshop<br />
he local dive instructors attended a one-day<br />
Tworkshop in diving related medicine, held on 9th<br />
February 2006.<br />
The aim of the workshop, which was organised by<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Tourism Board, was to create awareness on<br />
scuba diving health-related problems and to provide<br />
the divers with the latest medical techniques<br />
concerning the effective measures to deal with<br />
underwater accidents and their treatments.<br />
Authorities you should know about<br />
“<strong>Seychelles</strong> Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) was created in April 2005. Their mission is to regulate and promote<br />
the development of regular, safe and economic air transport to and within the <strong>Seychelles</strong>. The role of SCAA is to<br />
maintain and manage the Authority's aerodromes and to provide such services and facilities necessary for their<br />
operations, to provide air navigation services and facilities at the aerodromes and in the <strong>Seychelles</strong> Flight<br />
Information Region and to act internationally as the national body representing <strong>Seychelles</strong> in respect of matters<br />
relating to civil aviation.”<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Civil Aviation Authority<br />
February 2006
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2<br />
Regional & Int’l Updates ...........................................................<br />
Regional meetings prior to<br />
EU/EPA negotiations<br />
International<br />
Agreement<br />
Updates<br />
7<br />
he Minister for Economic Planning and Employment headed<br />
Tthe <strong>Seychelles</strong> delegation at the 4th meeting of the Eastern<br />
and Southern (ESA) Council of Ministers and the 2nd Joint ESA-EC<br />
ministerial meeting that was held in Mauritius on 8th and 9th<br />
February respectively.<br />
The meetings between the two parties were to consider the<br />
recommendations of the 6th ESA Regional Negotiating Forum that<br />
was held in Harare in February and also to discuss the strategic<br />
framework of the negotiations on the agreement of an economic<br />
partnership with the European Union.<br />
The new EPAs will substitute the Lome Conventions, the<br />
instruments under which for the last 25 years, agricultural and<br />
manufactural products originating from the ACP countries are<br />
granted non-reciprocal preferential (duty free) access to the EU<br />
markets.<br />
The EPA are interested progressively to remove barriers to trade<br />
between EU and ACP partners and enhance co-operation in all<br />
areas relevant to trade.<br />
Formal negotiations of the EPAs at all ACP level started in<br />
September 2002 and the agreements are intended to enter into<br />
force by 1st of January 2008.<br />
.......................................................................<br />
WTO Reference Centre<br />
two-day training on the World Trade Organisation (WTO)<br />
Areference centre was organised by that organisation in<br />
collaboration with the Department of Finance on 1st and 2nd<br />
March 2006.<br />
The course was conducted by two consultants from WTO's<br />
Information Technologies and Reference Centre and the<br />
objective was to explain to the ministerial staff on the functions,<br />
structure and role of the trade regulating WTO which will pave<br />
the way forward in making concrete decisions regarding<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong>' possible membership to WTO.<br />
The WTO resource centre is based at the Department of Finance,<br />
Liberty House and contains updated information on trade<br />
promotion activities, business opportunities, prices, trade,<br />
buyers and the WTO website (www.wto.org).<br />
.......................................................................<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> to re-open<br />
European Union Embassy<br />
he Government of <strong>Seychelles</strong> has announced its decision to<br />
Tre-open the <strong>Seychelles</strong> Embassy in Brussels, which is to<br />
strengthen <strong>Seychelles</strong>' diplomatic representation at the<br />
European Union. The appointment of the new ambassador will<br />
be considered by the National Assembly.<br />
DOUBLE TAXATION AGREEMENT (DTA)<br />
DTA agreement<br />
concluded by <strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
Negotiations concluded<br />
awaiting date for<br />
signature<br />
Continuation of<br />
negotiations - second<br />
round<br />
<strong>First</strong> round of<br />
negotiations<br />
Request for DTA<br />
negotiations<br />
South Africa, China, Indonesia,<br />
Thailand, Zimbabwe, Oman,<br />
Malaysia, Botswana, Mauritius,<br />
Vietnam<br />
Russia, Egypt, Belgium, Qatar,<br />
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain<br />
Czech Republic, Tunisia,<br />
Namibia, Kuwait, Russia<br />
Philippines, Malta, Burundi,<br />
Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Morocco<br />
Israel, Portugal, Turkey,<br />
Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, India,<br />
Sweden, COMESA member<br />
states, Argentina, Greece,<br />
Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia,<br />
Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Bhutan,<br />
Myanmar, Pakistan, Tajikistan,<br />
Uzbekistan, Republic of Slovak<br />
BILATERAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION &<br />
PROTECTION AGREEMENT (BIPPA)<br />
BIPPA concluded and<br />
ratified by <strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
The possibility of<br />
concluding BIPPA with<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
Egypt<br />
Namibia, United Kingdom,<br />
Sweden, Germany, Cuba,<br />
Canada, India, State of Kuwait,<br />
Bahrain, Oman, United States,<br />
Qatar, Republic of Slovak<br />
African Union (AU) Summit<br />
he Vice-President Mr. Joseph Belmont, represented<br />
T<strong>Seychelles</strong> at the sixth session of the conference of the AU<br />
heads of states held in Khartoum, Sudan in January 2006. The<br />
meeting, which saw the participation of 40 African leaders<br />
was described as fruitful as it gave an opportunity for<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> to re-negotiate its annual membership contribution<br />
with the organisation. During the summit the Vice<br />
President also met and held talks with various heads of states<br />
and representatives of organisations such as the Southern<br />
African Development Community (SADC).
8<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2<br />
..................................................................<br />
Regional & International Updates<br />
International relations - Foreign Ambassadors Accredited<br />
COUNTRY NAME BASE ACCREDITATION DATE<br />
China H. E. Geng Wenbiang <strong>Seychelles</strong> 10 / 01 / 2006<br />
Greece H.E.Polydore Kokonas Kenya 21 / 02/ 2006<br />
Cuba H.E. Domingo Angel Garcia Rodriguez <strong>Seychelles</strong> 07/03 / 2006<br />
.............................................................................................................................<br />
7th Session of the <strong>Seychelles</strong>-Mauritius CBC<br />
he Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (CBC) was<br />
Tlaunched in February 1991, with an agreement on<br />
economic, technical and scientific cooperation between<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> and Mauritius. The cooperation between the<br />
two countries has developed over the years with<br />
exchange programmes.<br />
The CBC is held alternatively every two years between the<br />
two countries and the 7th session was held in <strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
between 13th and 14th December 2005. This session was<br />
an opportunity for two countries to strengthen existing ties<br />
and cooperation amongst them. The two parties signed a<br />
new cooperation agreement. The exchange programme<br />
covers a range of topics to include the sharing of expertise<br />
in industry, legal affairs, social services, housing, environment,<br />
agriculture, education and information<br />
technology.<br />
................................................................................................................................................<br />
The WTO Conference<br />
WAIPA World Investment Conference<br />
etween 13th and 18th December 2005, trade ministers<br />
Bfrom 149 countries met in Hong Kong for the 6th<br />
Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation<br />
(WTO). The objective of this meeting was to settle the<br />
agreement on the Doha Development Agenda. The key<br />
issues on the negotiating agenda were traditional tariffs,<br />
non-tariff barriers, trade and investment in services,<br />
agricultural subsidies and the WTO rules.<br />
The Doha Development Agenda was initiated at the 2001<br />
Doha Conference and has as its aim to remove trade<br />
barriers between the rich countries and the poor countries<br />
so as to contribute to a more equal global trade system.<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> was represented at this conference by the<br />
Minister for Economic Planning and Employment and the<br />
Director General for Policy and Strategy in the Department<br />
of Finance.<br />
elegates from 85 countries from Europe, North and<br />
DSouth America, Africa and Oceania met in Geneva,<br />
Switzerland on 8th and 9th March 2006 for the eleventh<br />
session of the WAIPA World Investment Conference 2006.<br />
The conference was under the theme “What Tomorrow<br />
Brings: The rise of New Players and New Forms of FDI". Mr.<br />
Joseph Nourrice, the Chief Executive Officer of the<br />
<strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau also attended this<br />
conference.<br />
The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies<br />
(WAIPA) is a non-governmental organization based in<br />
Switzerland. This Association which currently has 180<br />
members from 147 countries acts as a forum for investment<br />
promotion agencies (IPAs) to provide networking<br />
opportunities and facilitate the exchange of best practice<br />
in investment promotion.<br />
The <strong>Seychelles</strong> Investment Bureau (SIB) became a member<br />
of WAIPA on 21st September 2005.<br />
Concept & Design: FD2-Xtreme Designs ® • 71 33 91<br />
P. O. Box 1167-2nd Floor,<br />
Caravelle House, Manglier Street<br />
Victoria, Mahé, <strong>Seychelles</strong><br />
Tel: 248 295500<br />
Fax: 248 225125<br />
E-mail: sib@seychelles.sc<br />
Website: www.sib.sc