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President James Michel stated, “We have a very active role on the international scene, whereby I have been calling for the world community to recognise the needs of small island states, and Seychelles’ unique experiences in economic, social and environmental protection.”
“Seychelles has, to share, ample experience in the fields of nature protection and sustainable development.”
The UK, Russia, France, India, China, and Cuba have embassies in Victoria, while Seychelles has an ambassador to the UN and to the US and Canada, as well as embassies in China, France, India, South Africa, the Vatican, Belgium, UK and from November in UAE, the first in the Gulf region.
As Patrick Pillay, Seychelles High Commissioner to the UK, observes, “you cannot have economic reforms without being sure that you are connected to this increasingly complex global world so, in terms of diplomacy and visibility and connecting with different multilateral, bilateral, regional and international partners around the world, he [the president] has put a lot of emphasis on foreign relations and international partnership.”
Indian Ocean piracy has prompted Seychelles to strengthen global links to protect its borders and the core sectors of tourism and fishing. The government has entered into multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding with such partners as the US, France, EU, India, UK and China, which in December announced its first overseas naval base in Seychelles.
More positively, Seychelles is developing strong international trade relationships. As Jean-Paul Adam, Minister of Foreign Affairs, notes, “we are in the middle of the Indian Ocean in terms of continental politics; we are affiliated with Africa, but offer so much more because we have this view of the Indian Ocean.”
A member of the Small Island Developing States group, Seychelles also plays a keen role in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Nonaligned Movement, the African Union, the Commonwealth, the Indian Ocean Commission and La Francophonie.
Pragmatic approach
A pragmatic approach has been taken to expanding international trade. The US has taken a back seat due to the long distance and time zone complications and even the eurozone, with its financial woes, is considered an unlikely market to gain new business interest.
Instead “we have been building a model geared towards emerging markets in Asia and Africa over the last five years,” reports Seychelles International Business Authority managing director and chief executive, Steve Fanny.
Even so, the EU has concluded an interim Economic Partnership Agreement with the Eastern and Southern African region, including Seychelles. Its fishing industry has gained access to the EU by adopting high standards at its tuna canning factory – one of the largest in the world – and Seychelles licenses EU vessels to operate locally.
But it is with the UK that Seychelles retains a very special relationship. Minister Adams believes, “it’s a relationship that has stood the test of time and which we see will continue. Things like investment in education and people-to-people contacts will keep the relationship going.”
British AOK
Anything British is perceived as good quality and desirable – even something as basic as British biscuits are sought after, points out Patrick Vel, chief executive of the state-owned Seychelles Trading Company (STC).
The island nation imports 90 per cent of its needs and suffers from price volatility, but it tries “to protect the population from the harsh realities of the world.” For some basic commodities, STC fixes its prices for a period “to provide more stability.”
Britain has also trained Seychellois police and military. There’s been cooperation with the UK Crown Prosecution Service in piracy cases and the UK’s Serious Organised Crime Agency to set up a new maritime intelligence and information centre to target the pirates’ financiers.
The driving force putting piracy and climate change issues before a world audience is President Michel’s key message that both issues must be the concern of all nations. It is not only the Seychellois who are threatened by trade and tourism disruption and disaster if the numerous low-lying islands are flooded.
Suggesting that global assistance needs to be given to Somalia to resolve its internal problems, President Michel asserts, “We are very grateful to Britain for the support given to us in the fight against piracy.” But he wants the UK “to increase its engagement as a matter of priority, in order to ensure security in the Indian Ocean region, where over two-thirds of the world’s oil is shipped and where trade and commerce is becoming exceedingly costly.”
Unfortunately, the climate change debate has become almost ideological. President Michel points out, “small islands and many other developing states are the worst hit by climate change and also have the least resources to tackle it. There needs to be a much more focused approach from all developed nations to put resources available toward tackling the problem.” |
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