Saudi Fund for Development on working visit to Seychelles |19 November 2022

Presenting the plan of the new La Digue school

A four-member delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development was on a working mission to Seychelles this week where they visited two new proposed projects for financing by the Fund.

The delegation was at Anse Aux Pins where they visited the new housing project at Caryole Estate, as well as a completed project in ‘Gran Basen’ housing estate funded by the fund.

According to the principal secretary for Housing, Denis Barbe, the ministry is requesting funding for 13 projects under the fund and Thursday’s visit was a chance for the delegation to see at least two housing projects as well as a school.

“We wanted them to see a completed one at Au Cap to see all the components such as the flats, parking space, sewage, drain etc. Then we went to a site that is presently under construction in Anse Aux Pins, so they could see what was actually happening there, and we also visited a potential site for one of the projects we are proposing. We also explained to them what we were doing to manage our cost”, said Mr Barbe.

The team then travelled to La Digue to see the proposed reconstruction of a school on the island.

The chief executive of the Seychelles Infrastructure Agency, Jitesh Shah, said the project has been in the plan for years but could not be undertaken for financial reason.

“We have now revisited it, including its architectural design and submitted it to the SFD. So during the visit we showed them the plan and the site so they would better understand the project,” said Mr Shah.

PS Barbe has described the visit as a positive one, saying he was hopeful the projects will be approved for funding.

It should be noted that details of the cost were not revealed.

PS Barbe said that if everything goes according to plan, the projects are expected to be tendered out during the third quarter of 2023.

Patsy Canaya/ Photos from the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade