Seychelles First-Ever Business Directory Published

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4 Seychelles Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2 .................................................................. Private Sector Corner SIB Interview with Mr. Peter Durup - GM Kokonet Kokonet has been in existence for 5 years. The company is primarily an Internet Service Provider and its core product is the broadband wireless Internet services which at present covers most of Mahé Island. Kokonet is also a licensed Voice Over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) operator and has just recently introduced the new KOKOtalk voice service. What are the strong points of your business Two of Kokonet main strengths are its well established wireless network which covers most of Mahé Island and its small team of dedicated, reliable and knowledgeable workforce. Together it provides its Wireless Internet services directly to the customers without the need of third party involvement. How is Kokonet competing against other Internet service providers We see competition as good for both parties. The customers benefit from quality products and competitively priced value for money products whilst the service providers are motivated into delivering superior services in order to drive revenues. Being a proactive company we have always brought products that ease customer services and requirements. We have recently introduced more transparent pricing and features for our internet packages, VoIP packages at cost saving prices for international calling and a Direct Debit scheme in conjunction with Barclays Bank to facilitate subscribers' bill payments. As a small, but flexible company we stay in touch with our customers and strive to give them what they are looking for, i.e. a combination of good services at affordable prices delivered by the latest technologies. Often this tends towards personalised products and services. What are the factors holding back Internet development in Seychelles Geographically, we are isolated from the major Internet superhighways of Europe and America. Our means of connecting to these backbones are through satellite access. The inherent laten-cies of satellite communications and the high cost of satellite bandwidth are some of the most noticeable factors that affect the development of Internet services in Seychelles. Is there enough support for Internet development in Seychelles The authorities are very much aware of the importance of the Internet for the future economic and social development of the country. To say that this translates into full out support would probably be an exaggeration. There is still too much bureaucracy in the regulation of the industry that can have stifling effect on growth and innovation. What do you think could be done The authorities should act more as partners than just regulators. What prompted the setting up of KOKOtalk KOKOtalk is what the customers have been compelling ISPs to make available. As the drive to cut cost whilst having a more affordable, but quality voice service alternative to the costly traditional Telco's product, Kokonet decided to deliver a much sought after commodity to meet the market expectations. KOKOtalk is a quality broadband phone service for voice, fax and email to SMS using devices such as softphones, IP phones, Wi-Fi phones and analogue phones. It will be able to interconnect to any PSTN and GSM licensee.The KOKOtalk number range is 47xxxx. Calls between KOKOtalk devices are free whilst international calls are 50% cheaper than the normal international call rates presently available. Customers will be charged a SR50.00 monthly subscription fee for the service. In your opinion, how would you describe the development of Internet in Seychelles Internet has evolved from a cold war idea in the early 70s to the well-known information superhighways of today. Our development is such today that many of our major businesses are dependent on the Internet due to its high cost saving aspects. The hospitality industry is one such sections of our economy that has taken full advantages of the Internet services. I must say that we now live in an Internet age in Seychelles. It is the future of the generations to come in every wake of the business arenas and our daily lives. But, there will be an obvious pitfall in that as we make maximum use of this versatile tool, it may create a second class citizen for those who will have limited or no access to it. For business, this may result in lost opportunities. What are your future plans Kokonet's aims are to spread the use of Internet throughout the Seychelles, to provide an affordable and competitively priced product using the latest in technologies and to offer the widest possible range of IP-enabled product and services. As far as the Internet is concerned, where do you see us, say in 10 years, 20 years, 50 years Considering the rate of technological developments, in the next 10-20 years, I expect that Seychelles will have then been connected to those high-end superhighways through a global fibre network or some next-generation medium.This will permit us to network organisations such as the business communities, schools, health services, emergency services, other civil services, etc… cheaply and provide them with ultra high data processing and throughputs for the mutual benefits of our society.
Seychelles Investment Bureau Newsletter • March 2006 • Issue #1 • Volume 2 Sectoral News .................................................................................... The Protection of Sea Cucumber he Seychelles Fishing Authority organised a stakeholders' Tmeeting on 10th February 2006 to discuss rules governing sea cucumber fishing, in order to avoid the need for a third closure of that fishery. The meeting which grouped local fisherman, SFA experts and members of the Sea Cucumber Advisory and Management Committee, were to tackle the problem of illegal sea cucumber fishing and fishing licence abuses. Amongst issues discussed were the licence conditions, transfer of licences, record keeping and illegal fishing. The Sea Cucumber Advisory and Management Committee was formed following a two-year Sea Cucumber Stock Assessment and Management Project, started in 2003 and which was intended to conduct a stock assessment of that resource from which a management plan could be drawn. That project funded by FAO presented its preliminary findings in June 2005, of which the need to create the Committee was the main recommendation. ....................................................................... New Fisheries Committee Launched SFA takes control of the Baie Ste. Anne Ice Plant 5 he Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) has recently took over Tthe management of the Ice Plant at Baie Ste Anne, Praslin, which was under private management. The ice plant which has a production capacity of 4 tonnes per day and a storage capacity of 10 tonnes is being refurbished and will be refitted with a new compressor and other accessories. These improved facilities will benefit the fishing communities of both Praslin and La Digue, and once the plant becomes re-operational there will be new opening hours and a revision in the price of ice. The project is being financed by the Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Foundation (OFCF) of Japan. ....................................................................... Businesses to save on Employer's Social Security Contribution ollowing the announcement by the President in the 2006 FBudget address, the government has set up a Fisheries Development Committee which will prepare a 5-year strategic plan for the further consolidation and development of Seychelles' fishing sector. The committee comprises of members from both the public and private sector and they will be assisted in their work by an EU consultant. ....................................................................... Fishing infrastructure project bid for Japanese Funding eychelles is bidding for an award of around $6 million from the SJapanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to fund the construction of fishing facilities on Mahe. Meetings were held in January 2005 between Fisheries officials from the Department of Natural Resources and members from JICA to review the project proposal. The project, if approved, will be the construction of fishing port infrastructure to include a slipway and an ice plant on zone 6 at Providence and another ice plant at the Bel Ombre artisanal port. A decision is expected from the Japanese government in July 2006. s part of measures to boost employment opportunities and Abusiness development in Seychelles, the Government has reviewed the social security payments by employers in all sectors. The social security contribution has been reduced by 5% for the salary range of R2001 to R10,000. There are four progressive rates which are used to calculate the contribution. These are the 10% brackets covering salaries from zero to R1,000, the 20% bracket from R1,001 to R2,000, the 35% bracket from R2,001 to R10,000 and 40% bracket from R10,001 to R12,000. The reduction which took effect in January 2006 will benefit those falling in the 35% bracket. ....................................................................... Import licence fee reduced mporters and businesses are to benefit from a reduction in the Iannual import licence fee from R5,000 to R1,000 . This is part of the Government's plan to reduce the cost of doing business in Seychelles. The reduced rate was announced in the budget address on 30th November 2005 and took effect on 1st January 2006.
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