Cabinet approves a number of legal and policy memoranda |28 March 2025
President Wavel Ramkalawan chaired a scheduled meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, in which a number of legal and policy memoranda were approved.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the Grand Anse Mahé Land Use Plan, paving the way for its gazetting and implementation by the Seychelles Planning Authority. The approved plan provides a strategic framework to guide sustainable development in the district, ensuring balanced land use that supports housing, agriculture, tourism, environmental conservation, and infrastructure upgrades. Cabinet’s endorsement reflects the government’s commitment to responsible planning and long-term sustainability for Grand Anse Mahé.
Cabinet approved the modernisation of the Public Finance Management (PFM) legal framework and the accompanying Public-Private Partnership (PPP) policy framework, as recommended by the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade. The revised PFM Act will incorporate new provisions to strengthen accountability, fiscal responsibility and financial transparency, while aligning with international best practices. It also includes the establishment of a clear, integrated PPP framework to guide the planning, appraisal and implementation of infrastructure and service-based partnerships with the private sector, ensuring value for money, risk mitigation, and alignment with national development goals.
Cabinet approved legal reforms to modernise Seychelles’ Public Debt Management framework, endorsing the drafting of new legislation with IMF support. This decision aims to strengthen governance, enhance transparency, and align with international best practices. The Ministry of Finance has been mandated to initiate stakeholder consultations, develop secondary regulations, and implement the reforms in a phased approach. This includes formally recognising the Debt Management Division, granting the Minister for Finance exclusive borrowing authority with parliamentary oversight, and introducing stronger controls over public enterprise borrowing and government guarantees, ensuring improved fiscal sustainability and accountability.
Cabinet endorsed the 2024 Annual Performance Report, noting the country’s positive fiscal trajectory marked by a stronger-than-expected primary surplus of 3.4% of GDP, improved tax revenue collection and disciplined expenditure management. The report included challenges faced in budget implementation including underperformance in grants as well as delays in capital project implementation which must improve going forward. Cabinet commended the overall fiscal discipline, effective debt management and the improved efficiency in public sector operations. The report, which reflects the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, was approved for submission to the National Assembly by March 31, 2025 in accordance with legal requirements.
Contributed