Esa and SLA formalise cooperation with MoU |29 December 2021

The signing of the MoU: (l to r) Mrs Larue, PS Nalletamby and Ms Appoo (Photo: Joena Meme)

The Enterprise Seychelles Agency (Esa) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA), formalising cooperation and collaboration between the two government agencies.

The agreement sets out the framework for improved collaboration in moving forward, sharing of information and statistics between the two entities, and Esa’s new advisory role towards clients engaged in cottage industries.

It was signed by the deputy chief executive of the SLA, Jessica Larue, and the chief executive of Esa, Angelic Appoo, in the presence of the principal secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Michael Nalletamby.

According to deputy chief executive of the SLA, Jessica Larue, the MoU will serve to eliminate duplication and overlapping in the functions of the two entities.

“We had duplication as a lot of the activities which Senpa (Esa’s predecessor) was issuing permission for was also licensable, but the Licensing authority had a different set of standards, and perhaps a slightly better standard. It is important to render the standards uniform across all business sectors to ensure that nobody has an unfair advantage over others,” Ms Larue said.

“These are small businesses, which is why we have this transition process, with a set condition and standards that will incorporate small businesses. We are considering that the businesses are not on a level playing-field like other businesses, but we are however, incorporating them in a manner that is fair. We also need to promote competition among businesses and to do this we need to have uniform standards, with SLA under the same umbrella ensuring that the law is enforced across the board,” Mrs Larue explained.

Similarly, chief executive of Esa, Angelic Appoo, added that it will serve to help strengthen dialogue and establish a framework of cooperation with the intention of mutual assistance and collaboration, for the effective promotion and development of investment, industry and entrepreneurship policies.

The aim of the agreement is for the sharing of statistics, intelligence and data, for the development of policies related to businesses, and conducting promotional, education and sensitisation campaigns to businesses with regard to licensing laws, requirements and obligations under the license, as well as the consequences of not complying with the license.

Laura Pillay