AGP Executive Report

Seychelles–Saudi Bilateral Talks: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting cooperation, including economic and tourism links. VAT & Governance Moves: Cabinet chaired by President Patrick Herminie approved VAT amendments extending exemptions for certain farming, fishing and related activities, plus changes tied to VAT-exempt goods imported in disassembled form. AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor: The AfCFTA Secretariat signed a US$5.17bn digital trade corridor deal with Ghana’s Quest Ghana, with Seychelles set to host the venture’s headquarters in Victoria and provide sovereign support. Seychelles Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 recovery momentum and outlining a 2027 shift from strategy-setting to implementation amid Middle East disruption. Sports & Community: The Seychelles Football Federation unveiled an international programme for the new season, while local youth in Grand Anse Mahé received football equipment from MNA Nelsia Balisa-Lepathy. International Context: A court ruling in the US temporarily reopened parts of the Diversity Visa process for DV-2026 applicants, with Seychelles among affected countries.

Naval Leadership: India’s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan told newly commissioned officers that modern war is still “a profoundly human endeavour,” urging courage, inspiration and perseverance as cadets complete training. Cabinet & Tax Policy: Seychelles Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending an exemption for certain construction services tied to VAT-exempt imported goods, alongside plans to host an ICOM youth forum. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, citing a mid-2026 recovery after Middle East disruptions and outlining a 2027 shift from planning to implementation. Foreign Relations: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss bilateral cooperation, including tourism and economic ties. Digital Trade: AfCFTA and Quest Ghana signed a US$5.17bn digital trade corridor deal, with Seychelles set to provide sovereign support and host the headquarters in Victoria. Sports & Youth: Seychelles Football Federation unveiled an international programme spanning youth and beach soccer qualifiers and other competitions, while local MPs backed grassroots football in Grand Anse Mahé. International Aviation Warning: Ukraine urged airlines to avoid Russian airspace after drone activity, while route data shows Russia still has nonstop links to Seychelles and Tanzania.

Cabinet & Tax Reform: President Patrick Herminie chaired Cabinet on Sept 2, approving VAT amendments that extend a VAT exemption for certain farming, fishing and related construction services tied to VAT-exempt imported goods. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, citing a mid-2026 recovery after Middle East disruptions and outlining a 2027 shift from planning to implementation, with growth led by Russia and supported by emerging markets like China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Foreign Affairs: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation, especially economic and tourism links. Regional Sports & Youth: Seychelles Football Federation unveiled an international programme for the new season, while Grand Anse Mahé youth received football equipment from MNA Nelsia Balisa-Lepathy. International Links & Culture: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to deepen cooperation on cultural heritage, archives, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Regional Integration: AfCFTA and Quest Ghana signed a US$5.17bn digital trade corridor deal, with Seychelles set to host the joint venture headquarters in Victoria. Defense & Leadership: Naval Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said the human element still decides modern warfare outcomes.

Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance after Middle East disruptions and mapping a 2027 shift from planning to implementation, with visitor arrivals picking up in July and August and Russia leading the rebound while China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey show growth. Diplomatic Engagement: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting bilateral ties, including economic and tourism cooperation. Parliamentary Links: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta, congratulating her on becoming the first woman Speaker and reaffirming shared democratic values and long-standing India–Seychelles relations. Regional Sports Prep: Seychelles has launched preparations for the 12th Jeux des Îles de l’Océan Indien, appointing a national steering committee ahead of the Comoros-hosted 2027 games. Blue Economy & Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training for ship design and shipbuilding as blue economy investment grows. Digital Trade Integration: AfCFTA signed with Quest Ghana to set up a Seychelles-hosted AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor joint venture, aiming to cut cross-border trade frictions and payments costs.

Seychelles–India Parliamentary Ties: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in New Delhi, praising shared democratic values and highlighting growing interest in India’s spiritual traditions, including Yoga. Seychelles–China Cooperation: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cultural and tourism collaboration, from heritage protection and archives to fashion exchange and skills training. AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor: The AfCFTA Secretariat signed with Quest Ghana to set up a US$5.17bn digital trade corridor, with Seychelles set to host the joint venture headquarters in Victoria and support interoperable payments and a commodities exchange. Seychelles Social Infrastructure Fund: Finance Minister Pierre Laporte says Seychelles plans a new US$2bn fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with independent governance to reduce political interference. Seychelles Football Calendar: The Seychelles Football Federation unveiled an international programme spanning Olympic qualification, COSAFA U-20, CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers and the FIFA U-15 World Cup festival. Duma Boko School Scrutiny: Businessman Ramachandran Ottapathu says his role in the Duma Boko-linked project was only temporary and limited to company registration, denying ongoing involvement.

Diplomatic Engagement: Seychelles VP Sebastien Pillay met Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation, including economic and tourism links. Parliamentary Ties: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held talks with Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta, highlighting shared democratic values and support for yoga promotion. Regional Integration: AfCFTA and Quest Ghana signed an agreement for a US$5.17bn digital trade corridor, with Seychelles set to host the venture headquarters in Victoria and support cross-border payments and commodities trading. Domestic Policy: Seychelles set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered, including eligibility (not being a prohibited immigrant), family or domestic ties, and a contribution to life in Seychelles. International Mobility Rules: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for most travellers from Sept. 15, while Seychelles gets a separate 15-day exemption. Governance & Oversight: Seychelles plans a new US$2bn fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with an independent management structure to limit political interference. Security & Justice: A Seychelles-linked residence-permit framework and broader regional enforcement backdrop come as Ukraine warns airlines to avoid Russian skies, with nonstop routes including Seychelles still operating.

Diplomatic Ties: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in New Delhi, praising shared democratic values and highlighting cooperation on yoga and people-to-people links as both sides mark 50 years of independence and diplomatic relations. Tourism & Culture Cooperation: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper collaboration on cultural heritage protection, archives, fashion exchanges, tourism promotion and skills training. Regional Trade & Payments: The AfCFTA Secretariat and Ghana’s Quest Ghana signed an agreement for a US$5.17bn AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with Seychelles set to host the venture headquarters in Victoria and support a digital marketplace plus interoperable payments. Domestic Policy: Seychelles set out three conditions for residence permit consideration for foreigners, including no prohibited-immigrant status, family or domestic ties to Seychelles, and a contribution (or intended contribution) to life in the islands. Economic Governance: Finance Minister Pierre Laporte says Seychelles plans a new fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with an independent management structure to limit political interference. International Mobility Rules: Thailand’s visa-free policy is changing from Sept. 15, cutting many travellers’ stays from 60 to 30 days, while Seychelles citizens get 15 days. Security & Maritime Context: Reports highlight rising use of small unregistered vessels in Indian Ocean sea crimes and trafficking, underscoring the region’s ongoing governance and enforcement challenges.

Seychelles–India Parliamentary Ties: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in Delhi, congratulating her on her historic election and reaffirming shared democratic values and the long-running people-to-people bond, including interest in Yoga. Seychelles Governance & Immigration: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered—no prohibited-immigrant status, family or domestic ties, and a contribution (or intended contribution) to life in Seychelles. Seychelles Economic Planning: Finance Minister Pierre Laporte says Seychelles is moving toward a new fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with an independent management structure designed to limit political interference. Regional Digital Trade Push: The AfCFTA Secretariat signed with QUEST Ghana to establish and run the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, hosted in Seychelles, to support cross-border trade tracking and payments. Controversy Watch (Duma Boko): Businessman Ramachandran Ottapathu says his involvement with the Duma Boko School and Clinic-linked New Delights was only temporary for company registration, distancing himself from later roles. International Context: Thailand’s visa-free rules tighten from Sept. 15—Seychelles and Mauritius get 15 days, while most others shift to 30 days—while global bond yields spike and the Vatican runs formation courses for 147 newly appointed bishops.

Duma Boko School Fallout: Seychelles-linked businessman Ramachandran Ottapathu says his role with New Delights was only temporary—helping register the firm while directors awaited work permits—after the company was tied to the controversial Duma Boko School and Clinic project. Residence Rules: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered, including no “prohibited immigrant” status, family or domestic ties to Seychelles, and a demonstrated contribution to life in the islands. India–Seychelles Diplomacy: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Yolanda Ernesta, praising the long-running relationship and congratulating her on her historic election. Blue Economy Cooperation: Seychelles’ fisheries and blue economy minister Wallace Cosgrow led a delegation to India’s CMFRI to discuss sustainable fisheries research and mariculture, building on an MoU with India and ICAR. Regional Context: A separate report highlights Seychelles’ place in Africa’s diesel price rankings, while broader coverage flags mounting pressure on Indian Ocean marine ecosystems and coral health.

Residence Permits: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered: they must not be a prohibited immigrant, they need family or domestic ties to Seychelles, or they must contribute (or plan to contribute) to life in the islands. Blue Economy & Fisheries: Seychelles explores deeper aquaculture and fisheries cooperation with India, with an MoU push and a Seychelles delegation visiting India’s CMFRI to align on sustainable fisheries research and mariculture. Diplomatic Spotlight: In an interview, Russia’s new ambassador to Seychelles says priorities include maintaining the momentum in bilateral ties, promoting Russian language and culture, and preparing for State Duma elections. Maritime Security: A Kenya Navy operation intercepted a small, unregistered vessel linked to methamphetamine trafficking, highlighting how small craft fuel both drug trade and IUU fishing across Indian Ocean routes. Climate & Health: New reporting warns air conditioning saves lives but carries a climate cost, as cooling demand rises and emissions from fossil-fuel power grow. Regional Travel Rules: Thailand’s visa-free policy is changing—most eligible countries move from 60 to 30 days, while Seychelles is listed for a shorter 15-day exemption. Court Developments: South Africa’s Hawks-linked Tembisa Hospital procurement fraud case sees alleged looting suspect Stefan Govindraju granted R200,000 bail.

Immigration & Residency: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered: they must not be a prohibited immigrant, they need family or domestic ties to Seychelles, and they must show a contribution they have made or intend to make to life in the islands. International Mobility: Thailand has formally cut visa-free stays for citizens of 60 countries from 60 days to 30 days from Sept. 15, while Mauritius and Seychelles get 15 days and visa-on-arrival is reduced to just three nationalities. Diplomacy Spotlight: In an interview, Russia’s new ambassador to Seychelles, Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev, stressed maintaining the momentum in bilateral ties, highlighting 50 years of diplomatic relations and priorities including culture and language. Regional Governance & Accountability (South Africa): Stefan Govindraju, linked to alleged Tembisa Hospital procurement fraud, was granted R200,000 bail after arrest on return from the Seychelles, with prosecutors citing his cooperation since 2023. Blue Economy & Research: Seychelles’ fisheries and blue economy delegation visited India’s CMFRI to discuss sustainable fisheries management and mariculture, exploring a shared research agenda under existing MoU cooperation. Women & Leadership: Seychelles First Lady Veronique Herminie urged girls to break career barriers, pointing to space education through Mission ShakthiSAT and linking ambition to leadership and mentorship.

UN General Assembly 2026: As world leaders head to New York for the UNGA’s key week starting September 22, coverage flags a tense backdrop of wars, funding cuts and US-Iran fallout, with attention on President Trump’s likely UN approach and domestic political pressures. Seychelles–India Blue Economy: Seychelles is pushing deeper fisheries and aquaculture cooperation with India, with a Seychelles delegation meeting India’s CMFRI in Kochi to map shared research on sustainable management, mariculture and climate impacts. Seychelles–India MoU Focus: Separate reporting says both sides agreed to strengthen technical capacity and sustainable use of marine resources, linking ocean policy to food security and jobs. First Lady on Girls in STEM: Seychelles First Lady Veronique Herminie urged girls to break barriers and aim for space science and leadership, tying Seychelles participation to India’s Mission ShakthiSAT. Seychelles in Regional Youth Sport: Eswatini’s National Youth Games will return in 2028, with Seychelles named as a guest nation and youth sport framed as a pipeline to Mozambique’s Region V Youth Games. Diesel Prices Pressure: A fuel-cost roundup places Seychelles among Africa’s more expensive diesel markets, highlighting economic strain from transport and freight costs. Tembisa Hospital Fraud (Regional Crime): South Africa’s Stefan Govindraju—linked to alleged R600m+ Tembisa Hospital procurement fraud—was granted R200,000 bail after arrest following a trip to Seychelles.

Tembisa Hospital fraud case: Seychelles-linked angle emerges as South Africa’s Hawks arrest alleged procurement syndicate head Stefan Govindraju after a trip to the Seychelles, with allegations tied to about R600m in irregular hospital contracts; he faces fraud, corruption, money laundering and PFMA charges, and was later granted R200,000 bail after NPA said it would not oppose due to cooperation and ongoing talks. Blue economy diplomacy: Seychelles and India move to deepen fisheries and aquaculture cooperation, with a Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visiting India’s CMFRI in Kochi to discuss stock assessment, mariculture, tuna fisheries and marine bioprospecting, including interest in data systems and digital monitoring. Regional governance & youth sport: Eswatini’s National Youth Games will return in 2028, with Lesotho hosting next year and Seychelles named as a guest nation in the recent edition. Environment & risk: Reports warn the Indian Ocean is at a tipping point as marine heatwaves intensify alongside El Niño and a likely positive Indian Ocean Dipole—raising stakes for reefs, fish and coastal communities. International spotlight: PM Modi receives Uzbekistan’s top honour, drawing political pushback from AIMIM’s Owaisi, who cites Babur’s origins in Uzbekistan.

India–Seychelles Blue Economy: Seychelles and India have agreed to deepen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, with talks in New Delhi led by Fisheries Minister Wallace Cosgrow and India’s fisheries secretary Abhilaksh Likhi, focusing on sustainable marine resource management, tuna processing, post-harvest tech, conservation, and even digital and AI-enabled fisheries data systems. Women, Leadership & Space Education: Seychelles First Lady Veronique Herminie backed Mission ShakthiSAT, urging girls to break career barriers and aim for space science and satellite building, linking the programme to Seychelles’ participation and mentoring for future leaders. Regional Sports & Youth Games: Eswatini’s National Youth Games will return in 2028 with Lesotho hosting, and Seychelles is noted as a guest nation—small but meaningful regional exposure for young athletes. Tourism Policy Debate: Seychelles Ambassador-at-Large Alain St.Ange pushed the industry to measure tourism by community value, not just visitor numbers, arguing tourism should strengthen host communities rather than erode them. International Recognition: A week of diplomatic and institutional signals included Seychelles President Patrick Herminie listed among heads of state sending congratulations after Hakainde Hichilema’s re-election.

Blue Economy Diplomacy: Seychelles and India moved to deepen fisheries, aquaculture and blue-economy cooperation after a high-level New Delhi meeting, with talks on tuna fisheries, hatcheries, post-harvest tech, marine conservation and even digital monitoring and AI for harvest management. Women in Leadership: Seychelles First Lady Veronique Herminie urged girls to break career barriers at India’s Women Leadership and Diplomacy Summit, pointing to space-science ambitions and her own rise in the male-dominated construction sector. Sports Oversight: Youth and Sports Minister Kalsey Belle toured sports facilities across western Mahé, meeting district authorities and communities to assess access and maintenance. Regional Youth Sport: Seychelles was named as a guest nation at Eswatini’s National Youth Games, where the next edition is set to return in 2028 with Lesotho hosting in the interim. International Congratulatory Messages: A list of messages received so far from heads of state and government included Seychelles President Patrick Herminie’s congratulations to Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema following re-election. Tourism Value Debate: Ambassador Alain St.Ange pushed the tourism industry to measure success by what tourism delivers to communities, not just visitor numbers. Judo on the Road: Seychelles judo team is set for the 9th International Open des Mascareignes in Réunion (Aug 29-30).

Diplomatic Messages: Heads of state and government across SADC and the Middle East have sent congratulations to Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema on re-election, including Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie. Fisheries & Blue Economy: Seychelles and India have moved to deepen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, with talks in New Delhi covering sustainable marine resource management, tuna processing, monitoring and surveillance, and digital and AI-enabled harvest management. Maritime Security & Governance: A separate India–Seychelles track also points to expanded ties in maritime security and digital governance alongside blue-economy collaboration. Tourism Policy Debate: Seychelles Ambassador-at-Large Alain St.Ange urged the tourism sector to measure success by community value, not just arrivals, arguing tourism must strengthen host societies rather than erode them. Sports & International Media: DAZN secured LaLiga broadcast rights across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons starting this weekend, bringing all 380 matches per season to 48 markets. Youth Sports: Eswatini’s National Youth Games will return in 2028, with Lesotho set to host next year and Seychelles named as a guest nation in the recent edition. Local Sports Oversight: Youth and Sports Minister Kalsey Belle toured sports facilities across western Mahé, engaging district authorities on maintenance and accessibility.