Victoria Waterfront Development Project |21 June 2023
A plan of the Victoria Waterfront Development project (SIB)
Call for investors to come on board
By Diane Larame
The Seychelles Investment Board has launched the Expression of Interest for the Victoria Waterfront Development Project.
This was at a press conference led by the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Devika Vidot, and the SIB at the latter’s headquarters at Independence House annex yesterday morning.
The redevelopment of the Victoria Waterfront is part of the Development Project approved by the government.
According to Minister Vidot the expression of interest is open to any individuals or companies but they were encouraging mostly Seychellois to come forward.
She explained that the proposed Victoria Waterfront Master plan has been reviewed to fit in with a more human-centric development, one of which will reflect the Seychelles culture promoting a livable place with activities for families, visitors and the youth. It aims at being a destination to unwind by the seaside of the Victoria Bay, all in one creating a cultural education place to work and play for the Seychellois and visitors.
Minister Vidot said the project comprises five zones each having a 60-year lease and the most important one for them was Zone A, which will be the Creole village promoting creole cultural attributes, entertainment and structures.
“One that is highly important to us is our Creole village where we want the village to offer creole dishes, and be a site for entertainment, for traditional dances and cultural shows, where tourists and locals can spend a wonderful time,” she stated.
“Zone B will be a commercial area which is divided in three sections namely B1, B2, B3. Zone C will be a water park with a small area for commercial use and there is already a lake where we are inviting the applicants to propose various water activities. Zone D will be reclaimed land which will act as the boardwalk with commercial and entertainment activities. Zone E will be an artisanal corridor with vendors, doing live art such as painting and drawing or other artisanal work,” she explained.
It was the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Investment Board, Lenny Gabriel, who gave a detailed presentation of the plan stating that SIB wants to see “a creole architecture throughout the project”.
For her part, SIB’s chief executive, Anne Rosette, said interested applicants can collect their EOI documents at the reception of the Seychelles Investment Board, second Floor, Independence House Annex and also at the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry office at Grand Anse Praslin located at the Pension Fund complex, first floor, room 2. Deadline for the collection of tender documents is on Friday, July 21, 2023 and applicants have to submit their responses no later than Friday, September 1, 2023.
“We want to see company details and certificates for companies showing interest, and certificate, profile and CV for individuals.
“Their application should also contain documentations supporting their financial ability for such a project as well as a synopsis or concept for the component they have chosen,” explained Ms Rosette.
It is expected that by the end of the year all applications should have been selected and processed. If this is met then the project is expected to begin at the start of 2024.
