IAC meets with foreign affairs and tourism departments |28 August 2023

The meeting in progress: Photo: Contributed)

Led by its chairperson Hon. Waven William, the International Affairs Committee gathered at the Botanic House recently to meet with Minister Sylvestre Radegonde and his delegation from the departments of foreign affairs and tourism.

This meeting engaged and fulfilled the mandates of foreign relations and tourism held by the International Affairs Committee (IAC).

Other members of the committee present were Honourables Wavel Woodcock, Egbert Aglaé, Kelly Samynadin, Phillip Arissol, Johan Lozé and Philip Monthy.

Minister Radegonde was accompanied by principal secretaries Sherin Francis (tourism) and Ambassador Vivienne Fock-Tave (foreign affairs) respectively as well as several director generals.

The meeting addressed concerns surrounding foreign affairs and issues that the IAC had brought forth, including the status of pending international and regional agreements, particularly the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) protocols, the status of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and European Union (ACP-EU) partnership agreement, the Cotonou agreement, and the inter- agency meetings with special relation to the status of national MoU implementation.

Discussions also centered on the status of regional cooperation and Seychelles’ position on the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).

Seychelles’ Multidimensional Vulnerability Index was also addressed where Minister Radegonde reassured the IAC of Seychelles’ continuous determination to lobby on the matter at relevant international conferences.

Under the tourism portfolio, the committee had pertinent questions on existing gaps hindering the sustainability and competitiveness of the industry. Many challenges such as lack of human resources, sub-par synergy and commitment from partner MDAs (ministries, departments and agencies), and the unavailability of further financial resources arose from the discussions.

The IAC committed its support towards the department’s development.

Another topic addressed was the pertinent issue of retaining Seychellois in the tourism industry, including the various strategies that both the tourism department and the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) are planning to implement to negate this problem.

The IAC proposed that there should be more sensitisation within the industry and among the public on the fragility of the industry and the need for improved collaboration and commitment to face the challenges of attracting the right visitors to increase revenue and maintain standards of services and products across the board.

After fruitful deliberations and clarifications provided by Minister Radegonde and his delegation, both parties expressed their satisfaction and commitment to a stronger partnership marked by regular meetings bi-annually.

Contributed

Caption

The meeting in progress: Photo: Contributed)