Private sector validates National Development Strategy 2023-2027   |27 June 2023

The workshop in progress

The Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, several associations and non-governmental organisations yesterday validated priority areas of the National Development Strategy in a workshop at the STC conference room, hosted by the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade.

Some 30 delegates were present in the half-day session led by the director general for national planning, Lenny Palit.

The National Development Strategy (NDS) (2023-2027) is a continuation of the NDS 2019-2023, which sets out the six pillars of priority that Seychelles needs to focus on in its development to ensure resources for these focus areas are allocated appropriately in the national budget process, as well as to provide a guiding light for the mobilisation of resources in collaboration with its domestic and foreign partners.

The six priority areas are a modern public service, a transformative economy agenda that covers tourism, agriculture, fisheries and blue economy sectors and enhancing the enablers through the digital economy sector and the financial sector. The other four areas are a healthy nation, the promotion of law and order, a modern education system aligned with future needs and finally an environment sustainability and climate change resilience.

Speaking to local media, Mr Palit said the priority areas were expected to last till 2023, but due to various factors including the Covid-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine, most of the indicators were no longer valid or could not be assessed in its entirety.

“With today’s reality, we are working on a document that still maintains the government’s long-term vision. To note the cabinet of ministers has re-affirmed Vision 2033, showing its commitment towards the long-term targets but how we are going to achieve them, have changed fundamentally,” he stated.

Mr Palit explained that since the government was still prioritising a modern public service, this could mean a smaller workforce, an efficient public service in the future that is more digitalised.

“That is one where maybe in the long run you could see a smaller government. In the transformation of the economy, we could see sectors reducing wastage, those adopting efficient policies, or widening the economy by introducing sectors that have not been properly exploited in the past,” said Mr Palit.

He said yesterday’s exercise was to get the private sector’s input for the document that maps out Seychelles’ position in the next five years.

“You can have the best document, but if you do not have the budget, the synergy between the government and the private sector, the human resource to implement it, then it will fail,” he added, stating this was a work in progress.

Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) chairperson Oliver Bastienne said the session was needed to clarify the priority areas.

“We might not all agree on the priority areas but understanding the rationale as to why they have become the priority areas, is a fair step for us,” he said.

Mr Bastienne said the most fundamental point for the chamber was to have that platform where they could have the discussion and he proposed a second round “so that we can better embed the priorities with government input”.

The Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade plans to hold several other validation workshops throughout the year, before finalising the document.

Patsy Canaya