COVID-19 SCCI proposes recoveryand prosperity plan |08 July 2020

President Faure chaired yesterday’s meeting(Photo: Louis Toussaint)

The private sector, through the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industries, yesterday presented its recovery and prosperity plan, a diureticto revive businesses, at the scheduled weekly meeting chaired by President Danny Faure at State House.

The plan is a proposal championing private-public partnership to re-build, re-energise and re-think the economy. 

Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) Oliver Bastienne noted that this national private sector agenda being proposed “looks at our recovery and how to emerge out of the crisis of COVID-19.”

The meeting at State House was also attended by key representatives of the government as well as other private sector associations such as the Praslin and La Digue business associations and the Seychelles Hotel and Tourism Association (SHTA).

SCCI developed its recovery and prosperity plan after conducting numerous surveys and interviews with partners and businesses in the private sector.

“We are very happy that the president listened to our plan and committed to supporting the agenda,” Mr Bastienne noted, adding that President Faure has given the go-ahead for SCCI to formulate a concrete action plan aligned with Vision 2023 and the national strategic development plan.

“When we completed this survey we understood that there are seven major pillars that the private sector wants to work in collaboration with the government to resolve. This involves the capacity of enterprises, micro and small businesses; look at how they are assisted and the environment they work in,” Mr Bastienne explained.

SCCI is also hoping to diversify trade with overseas market and to develop plans across different sectors and industries.

Mr Bastienne noted that it is important for other sectors to explore ways to further contribute to create employment and to the national GDP, rather than have the country solely depend on the tourism sector.

“It is important to understand that each industry has its limitations, opportunities and coherent themes but they each must have a sectorial plan even though we recognise tourism as our main economic pillar.”

Emerging sectors such as the green economy should also be encouraged to grow in a more inclusive business landscape, Mr Bastienne added.

This plan would also look at how the country can enhance the capabilities and skills of Seychellois workers so that they can better fit into this transition period and beyond.

Another pillar which SCCI deems important is the development of infrastructures including access to land, water, electricity, the ports and connectivity between the inner islands.

“We also spoke of digital growth and digitisation, and develop a plan on how every actor in the economycan evolve in this direction.”

Lastly, SCCI’s plans state that inclusive dialogue is essential for future growth, noting that consultations between government and private sector should be further strengthened especially in regards to drafting of policies and legislations.

In yesterday’s meeting, the principal secretary for finance,Damien Thésée, also briefed those present on a new rapid interest free loan scheme which will help ensure micro and small businesses can obtain financing required to survive the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

This new loan facility is in addition to the Central Bank of Seychelles loan scheme, tax deferrals, and job retention schemes, which are already assisting businesses in the country.

Mr Bastienne highlighted that this is a positive move, especially since over 90% of businesses in Seychelles comprises SMEs.

The meeting was also an opportunity to review the ongoing implementation of the Financial Assistance for Job Retention programme (FA4JR) where the private sector had the opportunity to raise concerns and make new proposals in regards the appeals process and existing criteria to qualify for assistance. The FA4JR committee will now review the propositions put forward by the representatives.

The next consultative session will be held next Tuesday July 14, 2020.

Apart from Mr Bastienne, present for the meeting at State House were the Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Didier Dogley, Minister for Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, Minister for Employment, Immigration and Civil Status Myriam Telemaque, Secretary of State for Finance and also chairperson of the FA4JR committee Patrick Payet, Attorney General Frank Ally, Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles Caroline Abel, principal secretary for finance Damien These, principal secretary for employment Jules Baker, special advisor for employment Veronique Bresson, economic advisor to the President Bertrand Belle, secretary general of SFWU Antoine, executive secretary of GETUS Tina Hoarau, chairperson of SHTA Sybille Cardon, vice-chairperson of SHTA Allen Mason, SCCI councillor Robert Stravens, SCCI councillor Sanjay Naidoo, chief policy analyst for department of employment Susan Morel, director general for employment promotion Letimie Dookley, representative of the La Digue Business Association Jose St Ange and representative of the Praslin Business Association Paul Rouillon.

Elsie Pointe