Travizory welcomes government’s bold technology ambitions |23 February 2023

• Private and public sector must collaborate to accelerate Seychelles’ digital transformation

Travizory, a Swiss hi-tech start-up, has welcomed recent comments from President Wavel Ramkalawan on his ambitions for Seychelles to digitalise and export technology to the wider African continent.

Whether it’s online payments for public services, setting up a business online or paperless work permits, digitalisation can improve ease of doing business, deliver more effective services, stimulate economic growth and drive up productivity.

Research shows that countries at the most advanced stage of digitalisation derive 20 percent more in economic benefits than those at the initial stage.

As ease of doing business continues to generate interest nationally, the President’s focus on e-government and embracing technological innovation will be celebrated by businesses across all sectors.

Efforts to digitalise core government functions have already proven to be successful, with the upgraded arrival and departure processes at the airport offering an enhanced experience for government and travellers.

Seychelles is already the first country in Africa to install biometrics at the border, and visits from senior delegations from countries such as Gabon and Tanzania prove that the President’s vision of exporting our expertise is highly achievable.

It is vital that such an ambitious goal is underpinned by a robust policy framework and that the public and private sectors can work together to share expertise, experience and insights.

Travizory is one of a number of tech start-ups based in Seychelles able and willing to collaborate with the government to deliver this vision of a truly paperless and digital government.

Tom Marten, managing director, Travizory Seychelles, said, “more and more governments are turning to digital solutions to address national challenges from employment, to security and welfare. Seychelles has a strong track record of embracing innovative technology and constantly modernising its offering to both citizens and businesses, and this latest statement is no different. If we are to take any lessons from countries that already operate largely digital governments, it is the importance of engaging the private sector to support widespread, secure and sustainable digital programmes. Travizory welcomes the comments from President Ramkalawan and we look forward to opening a dialogue about the role of technology in Seychelles’ social and economic development”.

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