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Thursday, 10 January 2008 |
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Seychelles News |
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2007 BUDGET ADDRESS |
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BUDGET ADDRESS 2007 By the Minister for Finance Mr Danny Faure Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of the National Assembly Seychellois Brothers and Sisters,
I am honoured this morning to deliver my first Budget address as Minister of Finance. We have achieved so much in such a short time as a young developing nation and behind this achievement is the sweat and labour of the Seychellois people.
It is for this reason that I wish to start by paying tribute to each and everyone for their contribution in making Seychelles what she is today and I call on everyone to join hands to take this country to a new level.
I also pay tribute to this Government for, it is only through the vision and programmes based on sound principles and values that we are now ranked 47th in the Human Development Index. This is no small feat for any new nation let alone one that is just 84,000 strong.
Mr Speaker we now have the opportunity to build on the hard work of the past and to put our trust and confidence in President James Michel and his Government, as well as the programme with which he has pledged to take this country forward.
More than ever, the realities of the economy of the outside world, with all its rigours as well as opportunities, have reached our shores while we for our part are reaching out to get our fair share of the world’s economy.
In short, Mr Speaker, we in Seychelles have never had it better and if we can keep a steady hand at the helm, if we remain prudent whilst keeping the zeal of a young ambitious nation, we can continue to sail in calm waters towards a much brighter tomorrow for our people.
But it is precisely when the going looks good that we need to be careful. It is when the sun is bright and hot for our tourists that we need to plan for drought, and it is when the rains look good for our vegetation that we need to worry about the possible landslides.
For whilst we remain a haven of peace and human harmony in an often disturbed and agitated world, we nonetheless share with the rest of the world, and remain vulnerable to, the uncertainties of climate change and what it may bring; to unpredictable surges in fuel prices and the constraints they bring, to regional conflicts, and their effect on our principal sources of revenue.
If they preoccupy large nations with much more human and natural resources than we have – and we witnessed these concerns at the recent World Bank and IMF deliberations in Singapore in September – then they should preoccupy and concern us, for given our size and position we may not always be able to cushion ourselves against their harsh and often unpredictable effects.
This explains it all, why even with millions of dollars of new investments pouring into the country in our key economic sectors of tourism and fishing, I am going to spend part of my address today looking at the challenges we face and how we need a new code of conduct and a new approach and a change of attitude in order to become better masters of our destiny.
As Minister for Finance, I am often asked “just how our economy is is doing?” My first reply has always been that it is doing fine and it is on the right track, as indeed has been endorsed recently by the visiting IMF and ADB delegations.
But I am also cautious and realistic enough to know that there is more to fine-tune as we continue to improve internal conditions of doing business, of harnessing the new role of the private sector, and wrestle with outside forces that confront us.
I am submitting my 2007 Budget therefore by taking a realistic approach to realistic issues, with a full understanding of the government’s responsibility to entrench and consolidate the well-being of the country and our people as well as its security and stability whilst reducing the vulnerability of the national economy to external threats and shocks.
These are primary considerations and targets which have been set out by President James Michel in his new programme, to build on our success and take Seychelles and the Seychellois people to a higher plane.
When we went out for our international rating recently prior to the 2006 Bonds issue, Standard and Poor’s highlighted the very points with which we have prided ourselves over the last 30 years of our development since independence and as we head into the 30th anniversary of the SPPF government, and management of our country’s affairs and destiny next year.
These beacons are political stability, peace in the country, prudent use of resources, continual investment into making the lives of our people better, the existence of a good welfare framework, and access of our people to a good standard of health and education.
By building on our B rating we aim to make Government more responsible in the country’s financial management as well as improve its fiscal position, thus sustaining and building on our international standing and investor confidence.
International Economic Developments
The world economy is projected to expand by 5.1 per cent (IMF) in 2006 and thus maintain the current growth trend in global output. In the US, the world largest economy, growth is forecasted at 3.4 per cent. The Euro area and Japan continued to record further expansion whilst China and India have maintained their strong pace of growth. Encouraging performances are also anticipated in emerging economies of Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle Eastern oil-exporting states as well as lower income countries in Africa.
Notwithstanding these positive developments, risks exist in the form of undesirable inflationary pressures, tighter conditions in financial markets and further increases in oil prices.
Inflationary pressures originated mainly from the buoyant global demand for some raw materials and fuel. For another consecutive year, oil prices have been trading at record levels owing to robust global demand and possible threat to supply. For the first nine month of this year, the spot price per barrel of oil in the US dollars was 28 per cent above the same period a year ago.
In many economies, inflation is above the Central Bank’s ‘comfort zone’. In addition to the rising oil prices, the trend in some emerging markets originated mainly from price pressures instigated by sustained periods of rapid growth or exchange rate depreciations.
Domestic Economic Developments
As a result of government policies put in place in the past three years, 2006 is experiencing a continuation of the economic recovery for Seychelles which started in 2005.
From an expansion of 1.5 per cent in 2005, real GDP growth for the year 2006 is forecasted at 4.5%. This growth is strongly underpinned by a general expansion in aggregate demand, mainly coming from strong increases in investments as well as private consumption. The latter reflected mainly that of households and has been due to the availability of a wider variety of commodities on the market and the recent increase in salaries.
The rise in aggregate demand has resulted to some extent in an emergence in liquidity growth in the second half of the year. A prime factor in the resurgence in liquidity growth nevertheless is due to strong flows in terms of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and also the continued good performance of the tourism and fisheries sector with regards to foreign exchange earnings.
As a result, the net external position of the banking sector has been improving. It improved by a remarkable R212 million from December 2005 to September 2006.
As a result of the rapid changes in the economic landscape given the implementation of reforms, the Central Bank and the government are monitoring the situation closely to make sure that the transition to a more liberalized economic environment is smooth.
The level of foreign direct investment inflows into Seychelles in 2006 is projected at US$ 114 million, with indicators pointing to further growth in at least the next three years.
These are mainly directed to the tourism sector, more particularly the high yield establishments, some of which involve the participation of internationally known companies.
Another important sector that is attracting interests is the fisheries sector. As a facilitator, the Seychelles government announced its Fisheries Integrated Development Plan which aims to increase the importance of the industry as well as to position Port Victoria as the leading fishing port in the region.
The growth in investments coupled with the economic rebound has resulted in a direct increase in employment creation with various vacancies being opened during 2006. Some of the posts have been taken up causing the unemployment rate to drop to 2.7 per cent in September compared to 3.9 per cent a year ago.
The services sector remained the most important one in our economy, and the tourism industry and its related activities represent one of the main sources of foreign exchange inflows.
The year 2006 has been a good year so far for tourism. The annual number of visitors as of the third week of October shows an increase of 11 per cent above the level for 2005 and above the average for the same period of the last five years.
Therefore, despite the scare of Chikungunya fever, the destination has been able to recover quite quickly. Since a large proportion of our tourists originate from Europe, the increasing trend in arrivals is expected to be maintained amid the positive economic outlook in the euro area. Consistent with the growth in arrivals, foreign exchange inflows from tourism-related activities are projected for an increase of 18.1 per cent relative to 2005.
Sovereign Rating and Bond Issue
In July 2006, Seychelles started the process to obtain a sovereign rating. The rating exercise was carried out by the international rating agency Standard and Poor’s and the country received a B rating with a stable outlook.
With this rating, the country has increased its options of the sources of financial resources it can tap. To that effect, the authorities issued a bond on the international capital market. Going for a limit of US$200 million the offers that came through amounted to a total of US$383 million from more than 50 investors, mostly high profile investment institutions in Europe and Asia.
Notwithstanding the high investors’ participations, the required US$200 million was accepted giving an interest rate of 9.125 per cent with a maturity of five years, the proceeds of which were used to clear the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi loan and clear payment arrears due to creditors including the ADB, the World Bank and European Investment Bank.
The payment of the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi loan has allowed for the release of pledged foreign exchange which can now flow back into the system. The rest of the proceeds of the bond have been used to build the country’s reserves.
Liberalisation of Foreign Exchange
Following from the rating and subsequent raising of the international bond, in October, as part of its plan to liberalize foreign exchange, the government and the Central Bank started the implementation of procedures to improve the distribution of foreign exchange and improve the efficiency of the market.
Such a move is expected to improve the confidence in the economic environment and this will gradually translate into an increase in foreign exchange inflows through the financial system.
In the first stage of this liberalization process, the allocation mechanism for foreign exchange which was administered by the Central Bank was transferred to commercial banks.
In addition to that, there was a reduction in the amount of foreign exchange commercial banks were required to surrender to the Central Bank – from 45% to 15%, thus giving banks more funds to meet their day-to-day business and trading allocations. As part of the process, the Central Bank will also clear the existing pipeline within a period of six months.
Outlook
Future prospects are on the bright side. The economy is anticipated to record further improvements on many important fronts. The growth in investments, both national and international, is expected to generate additional level of employment and further expansion of the key industries of tourism and fisheries as well as their peripheral activities.
As part of the government’s ongoing privatization programme, new opportunities will become available in the coming year, all of which are expected to encourage an increased participation of the private sector. As a catalyst in this development, Government plans to complete the process of exchange control removal which will consequently result in a more efficient distribution of foreign exchange.
Nevertheless, by nature of the economy, the projected increase in activities, although generating important foreign exchange inflows and employment will also put extra pressure on the limited resources such as manpower or on inputs.
Therefore, these factors will need to be taken into careful consideration for they can become very binding and affect economic growth.
Budget outcome 2006
The Budget I announce today for 2007 is in surplus. The budget outcome for 2006 is also a surplus— a surplus of 5 per cent of GDP or around SR 186.9 million. This is some SR 9 million above estimates for the year of SR 177.9 million. Mr Speaker, it is the fourth surplus Budget since 2002. This is the longest unbroken string of surpluses since the creation of our third republic. Revenue
The government expects this year to collect SR 2.32 billion in revenue, exceeding the projected revenue by over SR 389 million, or a 20% increase.
The four main areas where the collections exceeded the budget were in: 1. Lease of land 2. Dividends from parastatals 3. Indirect tax 4. Trades tax.
Revenue collections from long term lease of Land and Buildings have increased significantly this year as a result of new tourism developments, wherein Government properties are being leased out on a long term basis.
Total dividend amount of SR 188 million have been received from parastatals that have exceeded expectations. Government companies such as Seypec and Nouvobanq did exceedingly well in terms of profits made for the year, thereby giving Government more dividends. Dividends from SMB from past accumulated profits were also received.
A further increase of 15% in revenue is also expected in Indirect Taxes mainly in Goods and Services Tax. The increase is reflected mostly in GST from imported goods of 24% higher than budgeted amount, as well as more GST collections of around 29% expected from the services sector mostly the tourism sector due to the boom in the industry. Since the services sector accounts for about 52 percent of the GDP it is necessary to cast the net wide.
Trades tax collected for the year is expected to surpass targets. This is despite the various reductions in trades tax rates made mostly in 2005 and beginning 2006. RS 240 million is expected to be collected from Trade Tax compared to SR 199 million that was anticipated.
This 21% increase in trades tax revenue is mainly because of the increase in imports, namely beverages and alcohol, fuel and vehicles.
In fact, Mr Speaker, imports are expected to reach a record target of nearly SR 2.5 billion this year. Expenditure
On the expenditure side, the trend shows that both recurrent and capital expenditure have exceeded the budgeted allocations. The targeted expenditure was SR 1.75 billion whilst we expect to complete the year with an expenditure of SR 2.13 billion, an excess of SR 376 million or 21% above the budgeted amount.
Ministries and departments spending will be SR 910 million as compared to the estimates of SR 834.6 million - an overspending of SR 76 million. This has mainly been as a result of increased activities in some Ministries, salary increases that were not provided for in the budget and the re-organisation of the public sector towards the latter half of the year.
The increase in Subvention to parastatals is mainly because of additional funds of SR 60 million given to PUC, namely on account of the increase in fuel prices that has impacted negatively on the expenditure pattern of PUC.
Another cost component that was not anticipated in the 2006 budget was made up of the lump sum interest payments made to clear our debts with ADB, World Bank, BOTM and EIB. These payments of interest and principal had not been budgeted for. We were nevertheless able to pay out SR 257 million (US$ 46 million) to pay African Development Bank, SR 7.8 million (US$1.4 million) to World Bank, SR 357 million (US$64 million) to BOTM and SR 18 million (US$ 3.4 million) to European Investment Bank. The Government has mapped out a strategy to reduce debt in a reasonable and measured way, by bringing down the level of debts to 60 % of GDP by the year 2016, wherein each year’s surplus is used to retire the debts. Today, we have no arrears with any multilateral institution since we have cleared all outstanding dues. Our arrears are currently all bilateral and mostly with Paris Club creditors. We have started discussions on the way forward on this issue and in the months to come we hope to find a solution to these arrears also. As far as the domestic debts are concerned, government is more prudent with its borrowings whilst ensuring that there are sufficient avenues for savings and investments. Capital expenditure
Capital expenditure increase in 2006 is mainly for the Ile Perseverance Housing Estate project where Government has decided to implement both phases simultaneously.
Despite all these unanticipated expenditure, as a result of better than expected revenue collections, we will complete the year 2006 with a positive fiscal outcome.
2007 Fiscal Objectives
The aim of the 2007 budget is to achieve a surplus of 7% of GDP, so as to improve the fiscal position of government and to further sustain the debt reduction program.
For 2007, total revenue is budgeted at SR 2.42 billion, an increase of SR 105 million on the revised estimate for the current year.
Total outlays for 2007 are estimated at SR 2.095 billion, a decrease of SR 32 million over the revised estimate of SR 2.13 billion for 2006, a 1.5% cut.
The surplus for 2007 is estimated to be SR327.066 million, or 7% of GDP.
The 2007 Budget is therefore based on the following medium term assumptions:
· GDP growth of 4.5% for 2006 and 5% for 2007 (as per IMF estimates) · Tax revenue to be not more than 30% of GDP · Recurrent Expenditure to be not more than 40% of GDP · Ministries/Departments outlays to be around 30% of total budget · Capital expenditure capped at SR200m · Primary surplus (surplus without interest) should be at least 12% · Overall surplus should be at least 5% of GDP to service all loans
Revenue for 2007
The SR 2.42 billion revenue for 2007 is an increase over the 2006 actual - that’s SR 493 million or 26% over the budget estimates for 2006.
The bulk of this would come from Trade Tax and Indirect Taxes as Government is confident that with real GDP growth in the economy, imports will continue to grow and generate further trades tax and GST on imports and services. We expect to collect SR883 from indirect taxes made up of licence fees and GST whilst for trades tax we anticipate an income of SR260 million. The second main source of revenue will be from the lease of land under Rent of Land and Building, estimated at SR 256 million, of which around SR 140 million (US$ 25 million) is expected from Eden Island.
Expenditure for 2007
Mr Speaker, the Budget is generally recognized as one of the key tools for implementing the government’s programme for its people.
The budget allocation for 2007 especially for Ministries and Departments, has taken into account the following:
For 2007, the budgeted figure for Government Ministries and Departments is SR 933 million which is SR 98 million or 12% more than 2006 budgeted figure. This is to enable the Ministries and Departments to implement their respective programmes more efficiently and effectively.
The year 2007 will see an increase under Public Debt Interest of SR 181 million totalling an amount of SR360 million that we expect to pay next year as interest. This is mainly on account of the interest of US$ 18 million payable for the 2006 Bonds of US$ 200 million.
All interest payments on debts are provided for in line with the Government’s commitment in honouring our liabilities both for all domestic debts and for external debts.
Mr. Speaker, this budget sets out to create new opportunities for our country and people by building on stability.
The strategy of our Government has always been to balance provision of good social services with good economic management for sound and sustained development.
Our new credit rating is indicative of the firm commitment of Government to prudent fiscal and monetary policy, as well as continuing to maintain the social cohesion, political and macroeconomic stability that is required for long-term growth.
The principal aim of the 2007 budget is to enhance this very macro-economic stability that provides the necessary comfort for investment to flourish.
Stability must remain a cornerstone of our steady growth and success. We must also mix this prudence with a good dose of innovation as we tackle the future challenges this country faces in the development of its economy.
I shall now outline the various sectors which the 2007 Budget addresses.
Education and Health
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health will receive the biggest share amounting to SR185 million representing 4.4 % of GDP and SR180 million representing 4% of GDP respectively.
This underlines the Government’s ongoing commitment to provide a high level of education and health, thus an allocation of a combined budget of SR 365 million, around 39%, for both ministries.
As stated in the President’s address on the 18th of June 2006, education has always been and will always remain a priority, whilst health needs to improve in terms of service delivery to the general public.
Education Mr Speaker, for a developing country, we have built a comprehensive system of education and as a result, we have one of the highest literacy rates in the African region.
The main challenge ahead is to make the system relevant to the new economic realities of our country. This budget makes provision for additional resources to sustain the improvement of the education system and further improve the infrastructure, resources and programmes.
The Baie Ste Anne Primary School and Creche will open early next year and construction will start on the National Institute of Health and Social Studies. This will be funded partly by Government and partly by OPEC Fund. 2007 will also see the start of the construction of Seychelles Tourism and Training Centre and the Maritime Training Centre, both funded by BADEA.
We also continue to build on our success in training at the very highest level. The Manchester twinning programme which we set up in 2000, continues to go from strength to strength. Our partners in Manchester are delighted with the progress we have made, and the performance of our students speaks for itself.
Health
Central to the development of our society is the quality of our health system. Over the past 30 years, we have developed a health system which is accessible and free for all. Our objective is to attain better health for all and by all.
The Ministry is putting in place new strategies aimed at improving the quality of our health system. The 2007 budget makes provision for an increase in resources for drugs, equipment and remedial works to improve existing infrastructure.
Critical areas of attention for the fiscal year include the streamlining of health service facilities; improving procurement, storage and distribution of drugs, maintenance of equipment, and improving the capacity of health personnel.
I am optimistic that with the dedication and professionalism of all the employees of the Ministry of Health and the collective effort and support of members of the public, Seychelles will continue to improve and modernize its health system.
Arts, Culture and Sports
The creation this year of the new Ministry of Arts Culture and Sports has given a new dimension to the development of cultural, artistic and sports programmes in the country.
Development of the library’s multi media services to facilitate research will commence in 2007.
Computerization of the national archives will allow for better access to the internet for research as well as better archiving.
The Records Centre being constructed at Providence will open early 2007. The Centre will be the main registry of records that are out of daily circulation, ensuring that they are properly disposed.
In the area of sports, we have allocated SR 5 million for the preparation of the All African Games in Algeria in July and the Jeux des Iles in Madagascar in August next year.
Social services
Mr. Speaker, Government will continue to review its programmes offered to vulnerable groups especially the disabled and the disadvantaged youth groups, to promote and safeguard their well being.
In this context during this financial year we have made provision in the 2007 Budget to improve the facilities at President’s Village, Mont Royale.
As for capacity building, we should note that the new scheme of service for social workers has been implemented and the Ministry will continue to review the training requirements for social workers to ensure its responsiveness to the needs of the people.
Community Development and Youth
It is the policy of the Government to have a holistic approach to community development aimed at enhancing the quality and standard of life of the Seychellois family. The 2007 budget makes provision for further investment in social, cultural and youth development programs. Additional resources have also been allocated to upgrade community facilities, infrastructure and service.
In fact this year alone, we have spent nearly SR 60 million on such projects. Community life and care of the district inhabitants have always been a priority of this Government.
In this context, I am happy to announce an increase of the social security retirement pension to the elderly by SR50 as of next year to bring it to SR 1750. Other benefits such as the disability benefit will also see a similar increase.
As for our youth, Mr Speaker, we have them at the helm of our economic development. The Seychelles National Youth Assembly, the National Youth Council and the Youth Action Teams have proven their worth as reliable vehicles in promoting youth talents and participation in the developments happening in our country.
The inauguration of the Youth Centre at La Promenade in April of this year, in answer to numerous requests made in the Aspiration 2013 exercise, has made available a whole range of state-of-the-art and ICT equipment and services in a youth-friendly atmosphere.
Motivated by the success of such facilities government has made provision in this 2007 Budget to build other centers at regional level. There is also provision for the re-location of the Youth Village and the construction of a new Regional Centre at Anse Royale.
Housing The Government will continue with its commitment to provide adequate and decent shelter for those in need. Currently we have 53 ongoing housing projects representing over 3,272 housing units and we have spent more than SR 113 million on various housing projects in 2006.
This year over 300 housing units will be completed and we expect to commission 600 more units next year. As for Ile Perseverance we expect the first batch of houses to be completed in the coming 18 months.
Department of Police The Police will also receive a high budget allocation of SR 80 million in order to implement its reforms and expand activities in guaranteeing the peace and stability this country enjoys and upon which its tourism as well as its flourishing economy depends.
Department of Defence The defence forces will be celebrating their 30th anniversary next year. 2007 budget provides the financial resources needed to support their mission and objective of ensuring security of our country and our people.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Given Seychelles’ intention to rejoin SADC and in order to consolidate and extend its diplomatic relations with other countries, provisions have been made for an increase of SR 3.7 million in its budget.
Furthermore, Seychelles has a new embassy in Brussels, other than the UN New York mission and the Paris Embassy. To that end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will be allocated a total of SR 15 million for 2007.
Risk and Disaster Management Mr. Speaker, for small, island states like ours, there is another dimension to the development challenge. Our limitations of size, small market and limited resource base, a very fragile eco-system and susceptibility to natural disasters. As a result of the tsunami in 2004 and the heavy rains which followed, a substantial amount of our infrastructure (port, roads, bridges wall etc.) was destroyed or heavily affected. To rehabilitate these cost almost 30% of our GDP, and this affected implementation of other projects since we had to divert resources to reconstruction and rehabilitation It is for this reason that in August of this year, the Department of Risk and Disaster Management was created, with a full-time Secretariat to implement a national disaster risk reduction programme that would mitigate against any potential disaster in the country. This Department would also be responsible to develop a disaster preparedness and response plan in the face of imminent disasters. The Secretariat also acts as the implementing agency for the National Disaster Committee chaired by the President. In the 2007 budget provision has been made for SR 3.319million for the Department. Agriculture
Mr Speaker, this year has seen an improvement in the availability of important agricultural inputs as such pesticides, hybrid vegetable seeds, fertilizers and veterinary drugs over the previous years.
Between January to November 2006 Government has imported some SR2.7 million worth of such inputs and plans are in place to have at least a six-month supply of inputs at any one time with a view to enhancing the efforts of the farming community to improve production.
The Farmers & Fisheries Incentive Act which came in effect in January last year has given a real boost to investment in the Agricultural sector. The farming community and entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector have used the fiscal incentives under the Act to up-grade their facilities and has imported over SR 49 million worth of equipment agricultural inputs and transport.
We are aware however that there are some issues currently not covered in the Act and there are ongoing discussions with stakeholders in the farming community to address them through an amendment of the Act. We hope to have these finalized and put to the Assembly in the coming months.
Another very important project being carried out is the Melon fly eradication programme funded by the European Union. The losses incurred by the agricultural sector through damages by the melon fly amounted to about SR 12-15 million in 2006.
The program is progressing quite well and at the end of October 2006, a total of 28, 813 hectares of land in a total of 160 sites have been baited with 85, 680 insecticidal blocks.
It should also be noted that various training and capacity building programmes have been conducted during the current year with a view to boost the national capacity to handle the melon fly as well as other invasive alien species.
On the livestock side, the national livestock development programme has been maintained and there has been a slight growth in the poultry meat and pork sectors.
I am happy to announce that during 2007 a new abbatoir will be built and Government will establish a poultry parent stock unit which will cater for 100% local production of eggs and poultry meat thus enabling further growth in this sector.
The Crop Insurance announced by President Michel last year is in its final stage of completion with both local insurance companies coming forward on an improved farmer-friendly crop insurance scheme. Further consultation with all the stakeholders would be required and government has pledged a further SR 1 million next year to the creation of this Fund to help all farmers and fishermen at times of natural disasters.
Fisheries.
The healthy confidence investors have in our fisheries sector is starting to bear fruits. Government commitment to continue to provide this enabling environment was highly evident this year when the President launched the Fisheries Development Plan.
In this plan, 40 hectares of reclaimed land have been allocated for industrial fishery activities. This will include construction of two new berths, cold storage facilities, workshops, net repairs, and container depots among others.
These projects will cost over SR450 million and will be financed by private funds. I am happy to say that negotiations with an international consortium, are already well underway and work on the two berths will start in February 2007.
The Fisheries Development Plan also makes provision for the expansion of port facilities for artisanal fisheries and construction of new districts ice plants.
Once again this development will provide employment for our youth and enhance our foreign earnings abilities and help us attain our objective of maintaining Port Victoria as the number one tuna trans-shipment Port in the Indian Ocean.
This project will make available more land for
processing activities, net repairs, cold- storage facilities and provide
space for more industrial workshops as well as offices, including an
office for the Apostolat de la Mer. Tourism development:
The Tourism sector particularly is attracting unprecedented levels of interest, building on the attractive business environment that Government has created and the confidence that we have placed in our Tourism product.
Despite a number of adverse events affecting worldwide tourism Seychelles is currently experiencing strong growth in arrival numbers.
From a small modest decline in growth of 6% in tourism arrivals in 2004 compared to 2003, last year saw a growth of 7% making a net positive change of 13%.
Our traditional West European tourist source market is buoyant and growing and new emerging markets of the Middle East, Far East and Eastern European look promising.
Investment in tourism establishments and service providers is growing and interest for new investments continues unabated.
Through the incentives provided to the Tourism industry through the Tourism Incentives Act of 2004, today we can see the benefits to the trade. Government however is cognizant that under the current Tourism Incentive Act the small accommodation establishments are not receiving the same concessions as the large hotels. To address this, Government will be presenting to this Assembly a revised Tourism Incentive Act to ensure a level playing field for all accommodation establishments in the tourism sector.
When comparing prices with some of our competing destinations in the region, we see that whilst their prices have continued to rise, prices for Seychelles as a destination have not increased significantly, thus giving Seychelles a competitive edge whilst still maintaining its desirable image.
As the industry grows and prospers, new opportunities will be explored to increase tourism earnings through product diversification with emphasis on the involvement of more Seychellois entrepreneurs.
Centralised Payments
We are also recommending SR 170 million under centralised payments for various activities, NGO’s and national organisations, which is 2% more compared to the 2006 budget.
In line with the new scheme of service for payment of gratuity for public sector employees, we have allocated SR 33 million for gratuity and compensation to workers, an increase of 2% on 2006.
Some of the details of the allocations made under centralised payments are as follows:
National Aids Trust Fund
As pronounced by the President in his 2006 State of the Nation address, in order to tackle the growing HIV/Aids problem in our society, we have allocated SR 1 million to National Aids Trust Fund. This is our contribution to the continued fight against the HIV/Aids and builds on our existing programme, of which we saw some of the components on World’s Aids Day last week.
We acknowledge contributions being made by some individuals, organizations and businesses in the private sector and we hope many more donors from the private sector will follow suit and actively assist with contributions and activities towards this important cause of national concern.
National Training Fund
Over the last 5 years, we have sent over 1500 students for tertiary education around the world ranging from Imperial College and University of Manchester in England, to University of Cuba, University of China, University of Otago in New Zealand and even as near as the University of Mauritius, spending around SR 45 million a year on the education of our young adults.
This firm commitment by the Government will continue as we can see the results around us with more and more of our graduates returning home to work for their country. An annual budget of SR 45 million will continue to cover this cost.
Additionally, we also have a local Training Fund that provides for the training of the NIE students as well as distance learning of our teachers and medical personnel.
This Fund is being increased by SR 2 million to SR 10 million in 2007 as we are launching a new training and retraining programme for public sector employees to be coordinated by the National Human Resources Development Council.
It will also involve the professional development and career-change training of all interested public sector employees to enable them to move into other desired sectors and industries.
Furthermore Seychelles Institute of Management (SIM) has been allocated with SR2 million also to provide training to public sector employees to increase their proficiency thus increase productivity and provide a more efficient and effective service.
NCC/CARE/DAC
Mr. Speaker, we are highly aware of the many social ills plaguing our society: drug and alcohol abuse; crime and violence; idleness among some of our productive citizens and the lack of respect for authority and the elderly.
This cannot be cured by Government projects and programmes alone. Over the years we have worked with close collaboration with Non Governmental Organizations to deal with these.
As such this year we have increased our allocations to such NGOs such as CARE , the Drug and Alcohol Council and NCC.
Pensions and Gratuities
An allocation of SR 35 million has been made for gratuity payments to civil servants for end-of-contract payments and for pensions payable under old schemes.
Subventions to regulatory bodies
The budget allocation for 2007 for subventions to regulatory bodies is around SR 70.85 million, an increase of SR 5.19 million on the 2006 budget.
This is mainly because of the creation of two new bodies. The National Human Resources Development Council and Seychelles Qualifications Authority, the former being given SR 2.35 million and the latter SR 1.1 million respectively. Non Bank Financial Services Authority and Seychelles Tourism Board have been given each SR1 million more than this year’s budget to reflect their increased activities.
Subvention to Parastatals
Under subventions to parastatals, the main allocations next year will be SR 50 million to PUC to factor in the increase in fuel price, SR25 million for the operations of SBC, SR 15 million to SPTC for their smooth functioning, SR 8.4 million to SIM, SR 8 million to IDC, SR 5.7 million for PMC , SR 4.3 million for SIB and SR 3.5 million for SENPA and SR 1 million to L’Union Estate.
Additional funds of SR 18.52 million more than this year has also been provided for some of these parastatals such as SBC for their Union Vale station relocation, IDC for building of basic infrastructure and environmental requirements to accommodate the new developments taking place on the islands and for SIM, to enhance the courses being offered inclusive of a special training programme for the public sector employees.
Whilst Government is giving subventions to some parastatals, we have to recognize those that require no funding from Government at all; the likes of Seypec, Air Seychelles, Nouvobanq, Seychelles Savings Bank, Development Bank and SMB. Three parastatals that I would like to say a few words on are SMB, Air Seychelles and Seypec.
SMB Mr Speaker, I have only last week made a statement on SMB’s role in our new economy. I am today once again reiterating that SMB will operate as a trade facilitator and a trade regulator in compliance with Government’s policies, with the aim of ensuring adequate and regular supplies of basic commodities at fair prices.
Seypec Seypec was created to secure and supply our energy requirements. Over the years it has grown to add a shipping arm which manages three tankers and have recently merged with ex-SNOC and now handles the petroleum exploration activities.
In 2006, despite oil prices having peaked, Seypec in collaboration with Government was able to finance all the domestic consumption needs of around US$50 million. This can be compared to US$ 38.5 million in 2005 and US 28 million in 2004.
Despite the higher prices and increased consumption, Seypec was able to make record profits with the turnover in 2006 expected to be SR1.6 billion. The company continues to do extremely well in its international operations, which are the re-export of petroleum products and tanker operations. In the first ten months of operation in 2006, profits on international operations were in excess of US$ 31 million. Today there are 48 Seychellois working as crew or being trained to join the tanker fleet and more are expected next year.
As for oil exploration programme, Seypec continues to play an active role through promotion and assisting the oil companies that currently have acreage or negotiating for prospective acreage. In early May we saw the arrival of the seismic vessel Geo-Mariner to acquire data south of Mahe including the Coetivy and Platte banks, now being processed in Perth Australia for further analysis.
Air Seychelles Our flag carrier and its 668 staff continue to brave the challenges of the aviation industry with a good performance record despite tougher competition and high increases in fuel. The airline is already 100% e-ticketing compliant well in advance of the IATA deadline of the end of 2007.
The new inter-island short aircraft has improved Mahe-Praslin connections and international passenger figures look very good ahead of the international arrival of the new aeroplanes to meet the needs of new hotel rooms that will come on line.Air Seychelles is a success story. The creole spirit continues to motivate the management and staff.
Capital Outlays
Spending on Capital projects will be capped at SR 200 million.
The provision for funding ongoing housing projects will be given the biggest share of the capital budget, which is approximately 29%.
Establishing a competitive investment climate.
Mr. Speaker, one of the objectives of this Government is to reduce the cost of doing business in Seychelles whilst also increasing the ease of doing so.
To this end, over the last three years we have seen significant reductions in trades tax rates to the point now where only a small number of imports are subject to trades tax.
Similarly the Social Security rate for employers contributions will be further and significantly reduced in January 2007 on salaries between SR2,000 to SR10,000 where the rate would come down from 30% to 20%. Such reductions will benefit almost all employers.
Perhaps the most significant incentive aimed at the private sector is the change in the taxable income threshold announced by the President in the State of the Nation’s address earlier this year.
Effective January 2007, businesses with a taxable income of less than SR250,000 per annum will NOT have to pay business tax. This change will benefit all businesses and to such an extent that from 2007, over 90% of all businesses operating in Seychelles will no longer pay business tax.
I must also add that the Office of Tax has recently published a simplified self assessment scheduled to make the lodgment of tax returns for these non taxable businesses much more easier.
This Government believes that the outcome of the move to reduce the burden of taxes and Social Security Fund contributions on businesses will lead to substantial increases in business investment by the private sector and will increase opportunities for all Seychellois to obtain gainful employment.
To complement the simpler tax system, Government has decided to move towards a Revenue Authority whereby the four main government revenues being Business Tax, GST, Trades Tax and Social Security Fund contributions will be administered and collected from one centralized location.
This will:
· Provide taxpayers and employers with a one stop contact point for all their taxation and Social Security fund contributions dealings with Government · Reduce the number of Government offices that tax payers and employers will have to visit each month. · Provide a centralized tax payer and employer education, registration and information inquiry point.
This Revenue Authority will allow us to provide a better level of service to tax payers and employers, to apply our resources more efficiently and to avoid duplication of work both within Government and with tax payers and employers. The Authority will be operational in January 2008.
Small businesses
One important aim of Government continues to be the promotion and encouragement of the development of the small businesses in Seychelles.
As example of this, Mr Speaker, you will recall Government established a package to support the development of Cottage Industry. I am happy to say that the scheme is doing well, so far over 800 Seychellois have registered under this scheme.
The scheme to assist taxi operators to replace their aging vehicles is also progressing well. As at end of November 2006, I am pleased to announce that over 75 taxi drivers have been assisted under the scheme.
The continuing focus to achieve this over-all aim, is to improve the business environment by bringing down the cost of doing business in Seychelles and to encourage and empower all Seychellois who wish to realize their ambitions of operating their own business.
As another example of such efforts to provide incentive for Seychellois to establish themselves as business operators, in January of this year Government established the Concessionary Credit Agency to provide concessionary loans to Seychellois who wants to set-up their own small business.
Once again I am pleased to inform this Assembly that so far this year over 296 Seychellois have been assisted by this Agency to start their own business.
Mr. Speaker, due the success of this scheme, the Government decided to increase the amount of funds available to the Agency to provide the required assistance so that an even larger number of Seychellois can be assisted next year.. As such the budget allocation has increased from SR 3 million this year to SR4 million in 2007.
The Development Bank of Seychelles has been able to provide the funds needed for the growing needs of Seychellois businesses. So far this year, DBS financed close to 300 projects for a value of almost SR64 million which represents an increase of SR 4.5 million over the previous year.
Financial institutions internationally are also very interested these days to assist the small businesses through lines of credit through a bank or financial institution for what is known as “micro financing”.
OPEC Fund and EIB for example were very interested to help our small hotels and guest houses through our Small Enterprises Enhancement Programme, being implemented by STB. This will form part of the general promotion of our small guesthouses under the marketing brand of “Seychelles Secrets”.
With the taxation reforms and the up-turn in the economy the prospects are excellent and I ask all Seychellois and private sector to meet the challenges and seize opportunities on offer.
Privatisation
The privatization process with the general public participation started last year with SACOS. Mr Speaker we are happy to say that SACOS has been successfully privatized today.
The next stage of the privatization are the two banks - Nouvobanq and Seychelles Savings Bank - which the President announced would start in August this year. However we experienced some delays to put in place the necessary mechanism for the creation of an investment vehicle that we want to set up that will help the general public with an easy method of channeling the purchase of shares in all the future privatizations through this one vehicle. This vehicle is being set up in line with the international norms and practices.
We are pleased to announce that we have now completed all the necessary preparations and that the published privatizations of Nouvobanq, SSB and certain units of SMB will definitely commence early February next year. Details of this investment vehicle will be announced shortly.
Investment Promotion
Government will continue efforts aimed at improving the business climate in the country and participating in major regional groupings.
These efforts will include the adoption of a Foreign Direct Investment Strategy, a Competition Policy and reviewing the Investment Code making it more in line with international business practices. In addition, various pieces of legislation are at different stages of being reviewed and modernised.
Financial Services
In order to ensure continued stability of the financial system, the regulation and supervision of banks remain the functions of the Central Bank of Seychelles.
The general consensus though is that a well designed supervision and regulatory framework for banks is only a part of wider mechanisms necessary for ensuring financial stability.
As the Central Bank of Seychelles only regulates the banking sector, it was necessary to examine the regulation of the non-banking financial sector.
As a result Government established in November last year the Non-Banking Financial Services Authority. The main role of this regulatory authority is to help strengthen the country’s regulatory and supervisory capacity on non- bank financial Services.
Trade
Seychelles has undertaken a strategy of gradual and progressive liberalisation since 2004. The main aims of this are to open the economy by streamlining Government procedures, modernise the legislative framework, facilitate private sector involvement and enhance our international competitiveness.
Our economic liberalization has resulted in:
This has resulted in a significant increase in imports from SR 1,233 billion in 2005 to SR1,633 as at end of October 2006, representing a 32% increase. The increase in imports has been as a result of the foreign direct inflows and also investment by domestic businesses.
Mr. Speaker, the liberalization process on which we have embarked is a proven methodology to achieve economic progress and improving the lives of our people.
The process of liberalization, is being undertaken mindful of Government’s commitment to ensuring the security of our domestic producers and consumers.
The foundation of economy is based on trade: be it tourism, market access for our fisheries products, transhipment, re-export of petroleum all revolves around trade. We are already participating considerably in international trade.
The challenge is to benefit more from trade. To facilitate this we have to become more competitive and most importantly we have to bring our legislative framework and institutional set-up on a par with international trading rules and practices.
To amplify this we are currently negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union to safeguard the preferential access of our fish products to the EU market.
This Agreement, which comes into effect in 2008, will comply with the rules of the World Trade Organization. We will however, be given a transitional period to ensure that our laws and legislative set-up are in accordance with international norms.
Globalization may not be a necessity to some, but it is inevitable. For small island states like ours, the major concern is not with the process of globalization, but with the pace at which it is being dictated by the developed economies of the world. To have a say on how trade is regulated, one will have to be a member of the multi-lateral trading system, the WTO. By being a member, we, in association with other like-minded countries, will be in a position to put across our concerns and effect changes on the rules of trade.
Mr. Speaker, we have already in place, a dedicated multi-ministerial team putting in place the required administrative set –up for us to commence negotiations to join the World Trade Organization by the end of next year,
Off-shore business
As for the off-shore business, Seychelles continues to experience impressive growth as an offshore jurisdiction. It now has 32,000 companies on the IBC register, with nearly 8,500 expected to be formed in 2007. There are now a total of 36 licensed corporate service providers and the number of active special licenses stands at 70.
In the international trade zone, there are some 50 licensed companies including Indian Ocean Tuna Ltd (IOT) which is still by far the biggest earner and employer. The free trade zone or SITZ employs nearly 2,800 persons of which over 56% are Seychellois.
The offshore is currently generating a turnover of $22m through the provision of offshore services. The free trade zone is expected to turnover some $150m in 2006.
Government in collaboration with other offshore regulatory bodies are considering enhancements to existing international business legislation aimed at improving existing services as well as new activities such as mutual funds, stock exchange and offshore banking.
Government is actively encouraging the growth of its existing network of avoidance of double taxation treaties with other countries. Currently such agreements are in force with 10 countries, the latest of which are Thailand, Malaysia, Cyprus and Vietnam. We are also negotiating with 16 other countries and have concluded DTAs this year with Belgium, Cyprus, Quatar, Bahrain and UAE that will be effective in 2007.
It must be noted that the Seychelles is well respected by international regulators for its commitment to international norms on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing. SIBA along with its partners continues to work with all agencies concerned to ensure that Seychelles continues to be treated as a serious centre for international business
Challenges facing Seychelles.
Mr. Speaker, everything I have outlined shows that our economic reform programme has started to bear fruits.
There are of course challenges which we need to confront if we are to ensure that bottle necks do not occur in our efforts to sustain this economic growth.
We have identified these key challenges as being: Environment, Employment, Information Technology, Energy, and last but not least our capital Victoria. Environment Mr. Speaker, this Government has always maintained a very strong stance on environmental issues and as such been recognized internationally for its efforts to achieve sustainability – that is development in synchrony with the environment.
Whilst we have recognized the fragility and dependency of the country on its natural assets, its economy has also grown and developed resulting in significant increases in solid waste and littering. Irresponsible littering is a significant cause of disease propagation and flood risks.
A dirty Seychelles is in nobody’s interest. It gives a very bad image of a country revered for its outstanding beauty and pristine beaches. The public, and indeed this National Assembly, has rightly expressed serious concern over this alarming trend.
Government has been in discussions with the Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders in the private sector, to initiate the implementation of economic measures to encourage recycling and discourage littering in all its forms.
The general consensus with all stakeholders is for such a programme to be implemented in phases. In principle we have agreed to start the first phase of the programme by the end of the first quarter 2007.
This first phase will involve a refundable deposit on all PET bottles that are produced in or imported into Seychelles. This refundable deposit system will be supported by a network of collection centres to be established around the country.
In the coming weeks we will be finalizing modalities with Chamber of Commerce and private sector and details will be announced in due course.
The other measures concerning plastic bags, take-away boxes and other types of containers will be dealt with in phase two of the programme.
The law will also be revised to ensure the punitive and incentive measures, provide the appropriate environment to encourage responsible citizenship and a ‘Cleaner Seychelles’.
We, on our side, have started the process, through an innovative departure from tradition, by handing over to each of you a “Sac vacoa”, in which this budget book was presented, which we hope you all appreciated. I am sure that you will promote it for its aesthetic and cultural value as well as for what it stands for.
Employment
The amendment of the Employment Act has brought good changes which include :
There is still a need Mr. Speaker to address the issue of shortage of manpower.
According to the latest survey, as at September 2006 the number of persons in employment was 43,224 and the unemployment rate, based on the registered job seekers, rate is now at a record low at 2.9%.
There are many opportunities for work in our expanding economy.
Over the next 3 years, with the construction and commissioning of new hotels, alone the tourism related sector will create about 4, 000 jobs and with the expansion in the fisheries related activities and international trade zone sector an additional 1500 will be created. Our labor force is increasing at only about 1,400 per year.
Mr. Speaker, all signs are that we will need to rely on imported labour.
There will be a need for Government and its social partners to carry out an in-depth evaluation of our labour-market policies, to ensure that all Seychellois find the jobs that they do best and so that we understand better our foreign labour needs.
Information technology
On the information technology front, we have seen much progress:
Mr. Speaker, we have to increase our competitive edge in bandwidth as it is presently limited. Government recognizes this as an impediment to our development.
We have to connect to a global broadband telecommunications network through a submarine fiber optic cable either through an available link up with EECE network project for Africa or hook up with a neighbouring country with a well developed network or install the necessary link up with North Africa, that is already connected to the global network . Government is weighing all the available options at hand and will take a decision in the coming months.
Furthermore, we need to review the Broadcasting & Telecommunication Act to further bring it in line with immerging issues (e.g. convergence, impact of new technologies, regulatory enforcement etc.) and best international practices.
Energy
Mr. Speaker, the entire world community has realized that the impediment to economic growth is the high cost of fuel.
Seychelles has not been spared. The cost to cover our domestic consumption of fuel increased from USD38.51 million last year to USD 49. 43 million this year – an increase of 30%.
This is as a result of the increase in price of fuel and also an increase in domestic demand for fuel. Domestic consumption of fuel increased from 91,986 metric tones last year to 104,183 tonnes this year. . This year alone we have seen a record increase in imports of vehicles to 560. Funding our fuel needs, and managing the country’s future transport systems, both of which are inextricably linked, Mr. Speaker has become a priority and a challenge to our small island state, especially now as our economy picks up and we will need to come–up with a blue print for energy conservation and management.
Victoria
The last but not the least challenge confronting us is Victoria because as our economy expands and improves, as our Tourism industry blossoms, we will need to inject some gusts of fresh air into our little Capital that acts as the heart that pumps life into the Seychellois veins.
For this reason, Government will be studying various blue-prints in the next months in order to define a new vision for our capital – the role it can play in the region, the bridges it can form with the business giants that are sprouting around us, as well as the aesthetic and cultural promise it can hold for our population, and not least in how we can and should manage its transport issues.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, the Budget I announce today is framed for the future — the future opportunities of our young people, the future care of our aged, the future health and education services that our citizens will need and demand, the security of the nation, and the future growth of our economy. Our country’s success has been built on hard work and planning. It will take much more to keep us going further and I call on every person to do his part to achieve this next stage of economic growth as well as foster our well-earned quality of life. It is the Government’s sincere wish that the private sector will take these new set of tools and use them to move forward more positively while at the same time re-looking at the remuneration of their workers as well as their training needs. It leaves me now to express my appreciation to all those who have helped in the preparation of this 2007 budget— the President and Vice-President for their guidance, Cabinet Ministers for their support, Ministries, Departments, Parastatals for their input and to my own dedicated staff in the Ministry of Finance for all their help.
I join them today in wishing our President and the people of Seychelles our sincere thanks and appreciation for their continued support and hard work, and I take this opportunity to wish them and all the people of Seychelles a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
My sincere thanks also go to you Mr Speaker and members of the Assembly.
I now commend the Bill to the Assembly.
Diskour Bidze 2007 Par Minis Finans, Msye Danny Faure Devan Lasanble Nasyonal Le 5 Desanm 2006
Msye Spiker Manm Onorab Lasanble Nasyonal Frer ek Ser Seselwa Mon annan loner ozordi pour prezant mon premye bidze koman Minis Finans. Koman en nasyon ki pe devlope nou’n akonpli bokou dan en pti lespas letan. Msye Spiker, par deryer sa reisit i lasyer e travay dir lepep Seselwa. Mon rann omaz sak Seselwa e zot tou pour zot kontribisyon pour fer Sesel vin sa ki i ete ozordi.
Mon osi rann omaz sa Gouvernman. I atraver son progranm ek vizyon, baze lo prensip byen solid ek bann bon valer, ki ozordi nou 47enm pei pli avanse dapre Lendeks Devlopman Imen. Sa pa en pti zafer pour en nouvo nasyon, sirtou enn ki annan en popilasyon zis 84,000.
Msye Spiker, aprezan nou annan loportinite pour batir lo travay dir lepase e met nou konfyans dan Prezidan James Michel ek son gouvernman osi byen ki son progranm pou fer nou pei avanse Plis ki zanmen avan, nou bezwen fer fas avek larealite lekonomi mondyal, avek tou son bann konplikasyon ensi ki son bann loportinite, e nou osi lo nou kote, nou pe fer nou mye pour nou ganny nou par dan lekonomi mondyal.
An bref, Msye Spiker, isi Sesel zanmen nou’n annan otan loportinite, e si nou tenir byen labar, si nou reste pridan e an menm tan gard nou lantouzyasm koman en zenn nasyon anbisye, nou pou kontinyen dan botan ver en lavenir ankor pli meyer pour nou pep.
Me i presizeman ler nou war keksoz pe mars byen ki fodre nou fer atansyon. Se ler ki soley pe tape pour touris ki nou bezwen prepare pour lasesres, e se ler lapli pe tonbe pour aroz vezetasyon ki nou devret trakas pour levantyalite en deboulir later.
Pandan ki nou reste en pti kwen lape ek larmoni imen dan en monn ki souvan azite, nou osi reste vilnerab e nou partaz avek larestan lemonn bann lensertitid sanzman klima ek son bann konsekans; logmantasyon dan pri karbiran e kontrent ki sa i anmennen; konfli rezyonal e zot lefe lo sours prensipal nou reveni.
Si sa bann konsern i preokip bann gran nasyon ki annan plis resours imen e natirel ki nou -- e nou’n temwany sa bann konsern dan dernyen konferans Labank Mondyal ek IMF, Sengapour an Septanm -- alors nou osi nou merit pli konsernen, akoz avek nou pti grander e pozisyon, nou pa touzour kapab protez nou kont bann lefe sever ki souvandfwa nou pa kapab antisipe.
Pou sa menm rezon avek bann milyon dolar lenvestisman ki pe antre dan pei dan nou de sekter ekonomik kle, tourizm ek lapes, mon pou dedye en pe letan mon diskour pour koz lo bann defi ki devan nou, lefet ki nou bezwen en nouvo kod kondwit, en nouvo lapros, ek en sanzman latitid pour nou arive vin pli bon met nou desten.
Koman Minis Finans, souvan mon ganny demande sa kestyon: “Ki sityasyon nou lekonomi?” Mon premye repons se ki lekonomi pe al byen e i lo bon semen, e sa i’n konfirmen tou dernyerman par bann delegasyon IMF ek ADB ki ti isi.
Me mon osi ase realis pour fer fas avek lefet ki i annan en kantite rafinman pour travay lo la pour kontinyen amelyor nou bann kondisyon entern pour fer biznes; I annan nesesite pour angaz sekter prive dan en nouvo rol dan nou lekonomi, e nou bezwen prepar nou pour fer fas avek bann lafors eksteryer ki konfront nou.
Alor mon pe prezant mon Bidze 2007 an prenan en lapros realis baze lo bann konsiderasyon realis, e osi avek en bon konpreansyon responsabilite gouvernman pour konsolid byenet nou pei ek nou pep, son sekirite ek stabilite e an menm tan redwir vilnerabilite nou lekonomi vizavi bann menas ek sok ekstern.
Sa i bann konsiderasyon ek target prensipal ki Prezidan James Michel i’n met devan dan son nouvo progranm pour batir lo nou sikse e anmenn Sesel ek pep Seselwa lo en lot nivo.
Pandan prosesis pour ganny en evalyasyon enternasyonal tou dernyerman -- avan alokasyon ‘Bond’ 2006 – “Standard and Poor’s” ti souliny sa bann menm pwen ki’n fer nou lafyerte pandan sa dernyen 30 an nou devlopman depi Lendepandans, e la ki lannen prosenn nou pe al mark 30 an gouvernman SPPF pe diriz pei.
Sa bann pwen lafyerte se stabilite politik, lape dan pei, litilizasyon rezonab nou resours, lenvestisman kontinyel pour fer lavi nou pep vin meyer, en bon system welfer, e en bon standar lasante ek ledikasyon pour nou pep.
Pour batir lo nou ‘B rating’ nou bi se pour fer governman pli responsab dan ladministrasyon finans e osi pour amelyor son pozisyon fiskal. Sa se pour soutenir e ed nou batir lo nou repitasyon enternasyonal e konfyans lenvestiser.
Devlopman Ekonomik Enternasyonal IMF pe prozekte ki lekonomi mondyal pou agrandi par 5.1% an 2006, en sif ki pe mentenir tandans krwasans aktyel. Dan ka Leta-z-ini, pei avek pli gran lekonomi dan lemonn, en lagrandisman 3.4% in ganny predir.
Bann pei Lerop ki servi lamonnen ero, e Zapon pe kontinyen mentenir rikord dan krwasans ekonomik, tandiski Lasin ek Lenn pe mentenir en nivo krwasans ki tre for. In antisipe ki bann lekonomi ki pe monte dan Lazi, Lerop, Lanmerik Latin, pei eksportater petrol an Mwayen Oriyan, ek bann peiki zot reveni i ba dan Afrik pou osi montre en performans ankourazan.
Menm avek sa bann devlopman pozitiv, risk i touzour la dan laform presyon lenflasyon endezirab, kondisyon pli restren dan marse finansyer e ankor logmantasyon dan pri petrol.
Presyon lenflasyon i vin sirtou akoz gran demann enternasyonal pour serten matyer premyer ek karbiran. Pour ankor en lannen konsekitiv, pri petrol ti ariv en nivo rikord akoz demann e osi menas lo sours. Pandan premye 9 mwan sa lannen pri an dolar, en barik delwil lo ‘spot market’ ti 28% pli o ki menm peryod lannen pase.
Dan plizyer lekonomi lenflasyon i par lao sa zón konfortab ki zot labank santral in etabli. An adisyon avek logmantasyon dan pri petrol, tandans dan serten marse ki pe monte i akoz presyon pri koze par krwasans rapid pandan en serten peryod ouswa depresyasyon dan to lesanz.
Devlopman dan Lekonomi Domestik An rezilta polisi ki gouvernman ti met an plas dan sa dernyen 3 an, lekonomi Sesel pe kontinyen montre progre an 2006 apre ki i ti komans repran an 2005.
Apre en krwasans 1.5% an 2005, 2006 i ekspekte termin avek en progre 4.5% dan ‘real GDP growth’. Sa krwasans i siporte par en logmantasyon zeneral dan ‘aggregate demand’, koze sirtou par gran logmantasyon dan lenvestisman e osi konsomasyon prive. Bann lakour in benefisye avek en pli gran varyete komodite lo marse e logmantasyon ki ti anonse tou dernyerman dan saler.
Logmantasyon dan ‘aggregate demand’ i, pour en serten mezir, rezilta krwasans dan likidite pandan 2enm lamwatye lannen. Fakter kle ki’n anmenn sa krwasans dan likidite i en logmantasyon konsiderab dan lenvestisman direk sorti aleksteryer (Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) e osi akoz bon performans ki pe kontinyen dan sekter touris ek lapes ki pe anmenn plis deviz.
Rezilta se ki pozisyon sekter banker – ‘net external position’ -- i’n fer en amelyorasyon remarkab par R212 milyon depi Desanm 2005 ziska Septanm 2006.
An vi sanzman rapid dan sityasyon ekonomik swivan lenplimantasyon bann reform, Labank Santral ek gouvernman pe swiv devlopman de pre pour fer sir ki tranzisyon ver en lanvironman ekonomik pli ouver i deroul byen.
Lannen 2006 i ekspekte fini avek en rikord dan lakantite lenvestisman direk sorti aletranze, konpare avek sityasyon ase resan dan lepase. Rezilta ‘FDI’ i ekspekte ariv 114 milyon dolar, e i annan lendikasyon en logmantasyon dan sa krwasans pandan sa prosen 3 an. Sa i pou plito dan sekter touris, sirtou dan bann letablisman ki anmenn bokou rannman, serten parmi i enkli partisipasyon bann gran non renonmen dan lemonn.
En lot sekter enportan ki pe atir gran lentere i sekter lapes. Koman fasilitater, gouvernman Sesel in anons Plan Devlopman Entegre pour Lapes ki annan pour bi ogmant lenportans sa lendistri e osi fer Por Victoria vin por limero enn dan larezyon.
Sa krwasans dan lenvestisman ansanm avek en lekonomi ki pe repran pe anmenn en logmantasyon direk dan kreasyon lanplwa. Plizyer plas travay ti kree an 2006. Serten sa bann pos in fini ganny ranpli ki fer ki poursantaz dimoun ki pa anplwaye i’n desann pour ariv 2.7 an Septanm konpare avek 3.9% en an pase.
Sekter servis i reste pli enportan dan nou lekonomi, e lendistri touris ek bann lezot aktivite ki asosye avek li i reprezant enn bann sours prensipal pour deviz.
2006 in en bon lannen ziska prezan pour lendistri touris. Lakantite viziter ki’n ariv Sesel ziska 3enm semenn Oktob i montre en logmantasyon 11% lo 2005 e i parlao sif mwayenn pour menm peryod pandan sa dernyen 5 an.
Malgre lafreyer lafrev ‘Chikungunya’, Sesel koman en destinasyon touristik ti reisi repran vitman. Akoz en gran proporsyon nou touris i sorti Lerop, bon performans ekonomik dan sa bann pei i endike ki lakantite viziter sorti laba i ekspekte kontinyen. Logmantasyon dan nonm viziter i espekte anmenn 18.1% plis reveni an deviz dan nou lekonomi konpare avek 2005.
‘Sovereign Rating’ ek ‘Bond’ An Zilyet 2006, Sesel ti komans prosedir pour ganny en evalyasyon (rating) endepandan lo nou sityasyon devlopman ekonomik. Sa evalyasyon ti fer par lazans enternasyonal Standard and Poor’s e Sesel ti ganny en B rating koman en pei avek en bon lavenir. Avek sa ‘rating’ nou pei aprezan i annan diferan opsyon konsernan sours finansyel pour siport nou devlopman. Ti ver sa bi ki lotorite ti lans en ‘bond’ lo marse capital enternasyonal. Limit ti $200 milyon me lof ki ti antre ti pour en total 383 milyon sorti kot plis ki 50 envestiser, laplipar bann lenstitisyon renonmen Lerop ek Lazi.
Menm si ti annan gran partisipasyon bann lenvestiser, nou ti aksepte sa 200 milyon dolar a en to lentere 9.125% ek en matirite 5 an. Laplipar sa larzan in ganny servi pour repey lón ‘Tokyo Mitsubishi’ e eklersi aryeraz avek bann lenstitisyon enkli ADB, Labank Mondyal e Labank Lenvestisman Eropeen.
Repeyman lón Tokyo Mitsubishi i’n fer ki deviz i’n debloke e pe aprezan al dan sistenm. Larestan larzan ki’n gannyen avek ‘bond’ pe servi pour gard dan rezerv pei.
Liberalizasyon deviz Apre sa ‘B rating’ e sikse sa ‘bond’ enternasyonal, e osi koman parti plan pour komans liberaliz deviz etranzer, an Oktob gouvernman ek Labank Santral ti komans enplimant prosedir pour amelyor distribisyon deviz e elev lefikasite sa marse.
Sa aksyon i ekspekte ogmant konfyans dan lanvironnman ekonomik e rezilta se ki i ava gradyelman annan en logmantasyon dan lakantite foreks ki pas dan sistenm finansyer.
Dan premye faz sa prosesis liberalizasyon, mekanizm alokasyon deviz ki ti avek Labank Santral i’n transfer avek bann labank komersyal.
An plis ki sa, lakantite deviz ki labank komersyal i devret remet avek Labank Santral ti ganny redwir, sorti 45% pour vin 15%, ki fer ki labank i gard plis foreks pour bann bezwen tou le zour ek komers. Koman parti sa prosesis dan zis sis mwan, Labank Santral a osi eklersi ‘pipeline.
En regar lo lavenir Previzyon pour lavenir i briyan. Nou ekspekte ki lekonomi pou fer plis amelyorasyon lo plizyer fron enportan.
Bann lendistri kle parey tourizm ek lapes e bann aktivite ki annan lyen avek zot i ekspekte agrandi.
Koman parti progranm privatizasyon gouvernman ki deza an mars, pou annan nouvo loportinite biznes pandan lannen ki pe vini. Tousala i ekspekte ogmant partisipasyon sekter prive dan devlopman. Koman katalis dan sa devlopman, Gouvernman i annan plan konplet prosesis pour retir kontrol deviz ki a fer ki i a annan en distribisyon deviz pli efikas.
Sepandan, malgre logmantasyon dan nou aktivite ekonomik ki’n prevwar e logmantasyon dan deviz ek lanplwa ki sa i ekspekte anmennen, par natir lekonomi, pou osi met plis presyon lo nou resours ki deza limite parey mendev ek fasilite.
Donk, i tre enportan ki nou pran sa bann fakter an konsiderasyon, akoz zot kapab afekte nou krwasans ekonomik.
Rezilta Bidze 2006 Bidze ki mon pe anonse pour 2007 i pou en sirplis. Rezilta Bidze 2006 i osi en sirplis, ki reprezant 5% ‘GDP’ ouswa anviron RS189.9 milyon. Sa i anviron RS12 milyon par lao sa RS177.9 milyon sirplis ki tin estimen.
Msye Spiker, sa i 4enm sirplis dan Bidze depi 2002.
Reveni Sa lannen gouvernman i ekspekte kolekte RS2.32 bilyon an reveni, e sa i depas previzyon par plis ki RS389 milyon, ouswa 20%.
4 sours prensipal kot reveni i’n depas previzyon i dan: 1. Lokasyon later 2. ‘Dividend’ sorti kot bann parastatal 3. Taks endirek 4. ‘Trades tax’
Reveni ki’n kolekte avek lokasyon long term pour later ek batiman in ogmant konsiderableman sa lannen an rezilta nou devlopman touristik lo propriyete gouvernman.
‘Dividend’ sorti kot bann parastatal i pour en total RS188 milyon ki depas lekspektasyon. ‘SEPEC’ ek ‘Nouvobanq’ ti fer tre byen an term profi sa lannen. ‘Dividend’ sorti ‘SMB’ lo bann profi akimile ti osi vers dan reveni gouvernman.
Ankor en logmantasyon 15% dan reveni i ekspekte, sorti kot bann taks endirek (Indirect Taxes) sirtou ‘Goods and Services Tax’. In annan logmantasyon 24% GST lo marsandiz enporte, e anviron 29% GST sorti kot sekter servis, sirtou lendistri touris ki konmela pe fer byen. Akoz sekter servis i reprezant anviron 52% ‘GDP’ i neseser ki i prodwi otan reveni posib.
‘Trades tax’ sa lannen i ekspekte depas target. Sa pou ganny realize malgre rediksyon dan ‘Trades tax’ ki ti entrodwi an 2005 e komansman 2006. Nou ekspekte kolekte RS240 milyon avek ‘Trades Tax’ olye sa RS199 milyon ki t’in antisipe.
Sa logmantasyon 21% dan reveni ‘Trades tax’ i sirtou an rezilta logmantasyon dan lenportasyon, espasyalman bann labwason ek lalkol, karbiran ek veikil.
Annefe, Msye Spiker, lenportasyon dan pei i ekspekte ariv en rikord preski RS2.5 bilyon sa lannen.
Depans Lo kote depans, tandans i montre ki tou le de depans ‘recurrent’ ek depans kapital in depas alokasyon bidze. Depans ki t’in targete ti RS1.75 bilyon, me nou pe ekspekte termin lannen avek en depans RS2.13 bilyon, ki vedir RS376 anplis ouswa 21% par lao bidze.
Bann minister ek departman pou’n depans RS910 milyon konpare avek RS834.6 milyon ki ti’n estimen ki vedir RS76 milyon an plis. Sa i akoz plis aktivite dan serten minister, logmantasyon saler ki pa t’in prevwar dan bidze, e reorganizasyon sekter piblik dan 2enm lanmwatye lannen.
Logmantasyon dan sibvansyon pour parastal i prensipalman akoz en fon adisyonnel RS60 milyon ki ti donn PUC, prensipalman akoz logmantasyon dan pri karbiran.
En lot konponan depans ki pa ti antisipe dan Bidze 2006 i en sonm pour repey lentere nou det avek ‘ADB’, Labank Mondyal, ‘BOTM’, ek ‘EIB’.
Sa bann peyman pa t’in bidzete. Kanmenm sa, nou ti kapab pey RS257 milyon (46 milyon dolar) avek ‘ADB’, RS7.8 milyon (1.4 milyon dolar) avek Labank Mondyal, RS357 milyon (64 milyon dolar) avek ‘BOTM’, e RS18 milyon (3.4 milyon dolar) avek Labank Eropeen pour Lenvestisman. Sa bann peyman i enkli lentere avek det.
Gouvernman in prepar en stratezi pour redwir det dan en fason rezonnab e byen kalkile. Sirplis bidze ki anmase sak lannen a servi pour ranbours det e sa nou espekte nou nivo det a redwir pour ariv 60% ‘GDP’ ver 2016.
Ozordi nou napa aryeraz avek okenn lenstitisyon miltilateral akoz nou’n ranbours tou sa ki nou t’in devret peye. Nou bann aryeraz konmela i bilateral e i sirtou avek ‘Paris Club’. Nou’n komans bann diskisyon lo sa size e dan bann mwan ki pe vini nou espere trouv en solisyon pour sa bann aryeraz osi.
Konsernan det domestik, gouvernman i pli pridan avek bann pre an traver bann treasury bills and bonds, anmenmtan asire ki i annan sifizan opsyon pour seving ek lenvestisman.
Depans kapital Logmantasyon dan depans kapital an 2006 i prensipalman pour proze lakaz ‘Ile Perseverance’ kot gouvernman i’n deside enplimant tou le de faz an menm tan.
Menm avek sa bann depans ki pa ti’n antisipe, akoz en pli bon koleksyon dan reveni, nou ekspekte termin lannen avek en rezilta fiskal pozitiv.
Bann lobzektif Fiskal 2007 Lobzektif Bidze 2007 se pou ariv a en sirplis 7% ‘GDP’, pour amelyor pozisyon fiskal gouvernman e pour mentenir nou progranm rediksyon det.
Reveni total an 2007 in bidzete pour anviron RS2.42 bilyon, en logmantasyon RS105 milyon lo nouvo sif ki pe estimen pour 2006.
Depans total an 2007 in estimen a RS2.095 bilyon, en rediksyon RS32 milyon ouswa 1.5% lo nouvo estimasyon RS2.13 bilyon an 2006.
Sirplis pour 2007 in estimen a RS327.066 milyon, ouswa 7% GDP.
Bidze 2007 i alor baze lo sa bann lendikasyon mwayen term:
· ki krwasans GDP i 4.5% an 2006, e 5% an 2007 (dapre IMF) · ki reveni taks pa depas 30% GDP · ki depans abityel (recurrent) pa depas 40% GDP · ki alokasyon Minister ek Departman i anviron 30% bidze total · ki depans kapital i lo en limit maksimonm RS200 milyon · ki sirplis primer (san lentere) i devret omwen 12% · ki sirplis zeneral i omwen 5% GDP pour repeye bann lón.
Reveni 2007 Sa RS2.42 bilyon reveni pour 2007 pou en logmantasyon lo 2006 – sa i RS493 milyon ouswa 26% an plis ki estimasyon bidze pour 2006.
En gran parti sa reveni a sorti dan ‘Trades Tax’ ek ‘Indirect Taxes’ akoz gouvernman i konfyan ki avek krwasans ‘GDP’ dan lekonomi, lenportasyon pou kontinyen ogmante e anmenn plis reveni. Nou ekspekte kolekte RS883 milyon sorti dan peymen laysens ek ‘GST’, tandiski avek ‘Trades Tax’ nou pe antisip en reveni RS260 milyon.
Lot sours prensipal pour reveni a sorti dan lokasyon propriyete gouvernman pour en sonm anviron RS256 milyon, e ladan RS140 milyon (25 milyon dolar) a sorti kot Eden Island.
Depans 2007 Msye Spiker, Bidze i zeneralman ganny rekonnet koman enn bann zouti prensipal pour lenplimantasyon progranm gouvernman pour son pep.
Alokasyon Bidze 2007 pour bann minister ek departman in pran kont sa bann pwen swivan:
i. Gouvernman pou kontinyen donn latansyon spesyal Lasante ek Ledikasyon ii. Devlopman profesyonal bann travayer sekter piblik iii. Amelyorasyon dan lenfrastriktir ek zouti pour ogmant lefikasite sekter piblik iv. Kontinyen progranm liberalizasyon v. Ogmant partisipasyon sekter prive dan lekonomi
Bidze pour bann minister ek departman gouvernman an 2007 i RS933 milyon e sa i RS98 milyon ouswa 12% logmantasyon lo sif ki ti’n bidzete pour 2006. Sa i a permet bann minister ek departman pour enplimant zot progranm pli ekfektivman e avek plis lefikasite.
Pou annan en logmantasyon RS181 milyon an 2007 dan ‘Public Debt Interest’, ki fer en total RS360 milyon ki nou espekte peye lannen prosenn koman lentere. Sa i prensipalman akoz sa 18 milyon dolar lentere pour sa ‘Bond’ 200 milyon dolar an 2006.
I annan provizyon pour peyman lentere lo tou det, anliny avek langazman gouvernman pour onor son responsabilite vizavi bann det domestik e ekstern.
Msye Spiker, sa Bidze pe al batir lo nou stabilite pour kree nouvo loportinite pour nou pei e nou pep.
Stratezi nou gouvernman in touzour pour trouv en balans ant provizyon bann bon servis sosyal ek en bon ladministrasyon ekonomik pour developman solid e soutenab.
Nou nouvo ‘credit rating’ i montre langazman ferm ki gouvernman i annan pour en polisi fiskal e monneter ki pridan, e an menm tan kontinyen mentenir koezyon sosyal e stabilite politik e makroekonomik ki neseser pour krwasans long term. Bi prensipal Bidze 2007 se pour amelyor stabilite makroekonomik ki donn sa sekirite pour lenvestisman prospere.
Stabilite i devret sa pilye ki pou asire ki nou krwasans e sikse i reste konstan. Dan nou prevwayans nou bezwen osi azout en pti doz inovasyon pour sirmont bann defi ki nou pei i fer fas avek letan i pe devlop son lekonomi.
Aprezan mon a koz lo bann diferan sekter ki Bidze 2007 i adrese.
Ledikasyon ek Lasante Minister Ledikasyon ek Minister Lasante pou resevwar pli gro parti Bidze avek RS185 milyon (4% ‘GDP’), e RS180 milyon (4% ‘GDP’), respektivman.
Sa i souliny langazman ki Gouvernman i annan pour fourni en o nivo ledikasyon ek lasante, ki fer ki sa 2 minister pe resevwar en total RS365 milyon, ki anviron 39% bidze.
Parey ti fer resorti dan diskour Prezidan le 18 Zen 2006, ledikasyon in toultan e pou touzour reste en priyorite, tandiski lasante i bezwen amelyore kot i konsern servis ki i donn piblik.
Ledikasyon Msye Spiker, pour en pei ki pe devlope nou’n batir en sistem ledikasyon konpreansif, e an rezilta, nou annan en to alfabetizasyon ki parmi bann pli o dan Lafrik.
Defi prensipal devan nou se pour fer sa sistem relevan avek realite ekonomik nou pei. Sa bidze i fer provizyon pour plis resours pour soutenir amelyorasyon dan sistenm ledikasyon e amelyor ankor bann lenfrastriktir, resours ek progranm.
Nouvo lakres ek Lekol Primer Baie Ste Anne pou ouver boner lannen prosenn e konstriksyon pou komanse lo nouvo Lenstiti Nasyonal pour Letid Lasante ek Sosyal. Sa pou ganny finanse en parti par Gouvernman e lot parti avek Fon OPEC. 2007 pou war komansman konstriksyon Sant Formasyon pour Tourizm, e Sant Formasyon Maritim. Tou le de pou finanse par BADEA.
Nou pe osi batir lo nou sikse dan domenn formasyon a en pli o nivo. Progranm avek Liniversite Manchester ki ti etabli an 2000, pe kontinyen devlope, e nou bann partener Manchester i byen satisfe avek progre ki nou’n fer. Performans nou bann etidyan i koz pou li mennm.
Lasante Sa ki santral dan devlopman nou sosyete se kalite nou sistenm lasante. Pandan sa 30 dernyen lannen nou’n devlop en sistenm lasante ki tou dimoun i annan akse avek, e ki gratwit. Nou lobzektif se en meyer lasante pou tou dimoun e par tou dimoun.
Minister pe met anplas nouvo stratezi avek bi amelyor kalite nou sistenm lasante. Bidze 2007 i fer provizyon pour en logmantasyon dan resours pour latizann, lekipman e modernizasyon lenfrastriktir ki deza egziste.
Bann eleman pli kritik ki bezwen bokou latansyon pandan sa nouvo lannen fiskal i enkli lentrodiksyon en metod pli senp e plis efikas dan bann fasilite servis lasante; amelyorasyon dan metod ki aste, stoke e distribye latizann; bon menntenenns lekipman; e logmantasyon kapasite travayer lasante.
Mon optimis ki avek dedikasyon e profesyonalism tou staf Minister Lasante ensi ki zefor kolektif e sipor manm piblik, Sesel a kontinyen amelyor e moderniz son sistenm lasante.
Lar, Kiltir ek Sport Kreasyon en nouvo Minister Lar, Kiltir ek Sport in donn devlopman bann progranm kiltirel, artistik e sportif en nouvo dimansyon dan sa pei.
Devlopman servis miltimedya pour fasilit resers dan bibliotek pou komanse an 2008.
Konpiterizasyon arsiv nasyonal i a fasilit akse avek enternet e permet bann meyer metod arsivik.
Sant dokimantasyon (Records Centre) ki pe konstri ‘Providence’ pe ouver boner an 2007. Sa sant pou landrwa prensipal kot bann rikord ki nepli an sirkilasyon kotidyen pou ganny stoke dan en fason apropriye.
Dan domenn sport, en alokasyon RS5 milyon in ganny akorde an preparasyon pour « All Africa Games » an Algerie e Zwe de zil an Madagascar dan mwan Zilyet ek Out lannen prosenn
Servis Sosyal Msye. Spiker, Gouvernman pou kontinyen revwar bann progranm ki i ofer pour bann group vilnerab, espesyalman bann ki annan dezabilite e bann group zenn dezavantaze, pour promouvwar e sofgard zot byennet.
Dan sa konteks, provizyon in fer dan sa lannen finansyel dan bidze 2007 pour amelyor fasilite dan Vilaz Prezidan ek ‘Mont Royale.
Kanta devlopman kapasite, nou devret note ki sa nouvo skim servis pour travayer sosyal in deza ganny enplimante e sa Minister pou kontinyen revwar bann bezwen travayer an term formasyon pour ki a zot tour, zot kapab reponn a bezwen piblik.
Devlopman Kominoter ek Lazenes I polisi gouvernman pour pran en lapros konpreansif vizavi devlopman kominoter ki vize ver elevasyon kalite ek standar lavi tou fanmir Seselwa. Bidze 2007 i donk fer provizyon pour envestir plis dan progranm devlopman dan domenn sosyal, kiltir ek lazenes. Provizyon in fer osi pour resours adisyonnel pour elev nivo fasilite dan kominote, lenfrastriktir e servis. Annefe, zis sa lannen nou’n depans anviron RS60 milyon dan bann tel proze. Lavi kominoter ek swen bann zabitan distrik in toultan en priyorite sa gouvernman.
Dan sa konteks, i fer mwan en gran plezir pour anons en logmantasyon SR50 dan pansyon sekirite sosyal bann dimoun aze o debi lannen prosen pour fer li vin en total SR1750 par mwan. Pou osi annan en logmantasyon parey dan lezot benefis tel ki benefis dezabilite.
Kanta a nou bann zenn, Msye Spiker, zot form parti bann moter nou lekonomi. Lasanble bann Zenn, Konsey Nasyonal Lazenes ek bann ‘Youth Action Teams’ in montre zot valer koman bann veikil fyer dan promosyon bann zenn talan e partisipasyon dan bann devlopman ki pe arive dan nou pei.
Linogirasyon Sant Lazenes kot ‘La Promenade’ an Avril sa lannen pour reponn lapel a demann bann zenn dan Laspirasyon 2013, in met a dispozisyon tou zenn, en varyete lekipman tre onivo, enkli lekipman teknolozi lenformasyon, dan en latmosfer ki tre adapte a bann zenn.
Sikse bann tel fasilite in motiv gouvernman pour fer provizyon dan bidze 2007 pour konstriksyon ankor plis sant lo nivo rezyonal. I annan osi provizyon pour transfer Vilaz Lazenes dan en lot lokasyon e konstriksyon en nouvo Sant Rezyonal Anse Royale.
Lozman Gouvernman pou kontinyen son langazman pour fer provizyon en lozman adekwat e konvenab pour bann ki dan bezwen. An 2006, nou’n depans plis ki RS113 milyon lo diferan proze lozman e aktyelman, i annan 53 proze lakaz an konstriksyon, ki reprezant plis ki 3,272 younit lakaz.
Sa lannen, plis ki 300 unit lakaz pe konplete e nou ekspekte realiz konstriksyon en lot 600 younit lannen prosen. Kanta ‘Ile Perseverance’, nou ekspekte ki bann premye group lakaz i a konplete dan sa prosen 18 mwan.
Departman Lapolis Lapolis osi pou resevwar en alokasyon bidze konsiderab SR80 milyon pour permet li enplimant son bann reform e agrandi bann aktivite ki asir lape ek stabilite ki sa pei i zouir ; lape ek stabilite ki nou aktivite touristik e nou lekonomi i depan lo la.
Lafors Defans Lafors Defans Sesel pou selebre son 30 enm laniverser lannen prosen. Bidze 2007 i donn zor resours neseser pour siport zot misyon pour protez e defann lepep Seselwa e teritwar Sesel
Zafer Etranzer ek Korperasyon Enternasyonal Vizavi lentansyon Sesel pour rezwenn ‘SADC’ e afen ki i a konsolid e agrandi son relasyon diplomatik avek lezot pei, provizyon in fer pour en logmantasyon RS3.7 milyon dan bidze 2007.
De plis, Sesel i annan en nouvo lanbasad an ‘Bruxelles’ apard ki misyon Nasyon-z-ini ‘New York’ ek lanbasad ‘Paris’. Donk, Minister Zafer Etranzer ek Korperasyon Enternasyonal pou ganny en alokasyon RS15 milyon an total pour 2007.
Zesyon risk ek dezas Msye Spiker, pour bann pti leta zil parey nou, i annan en lot dimansyon dan bann defi ki nou fer fas avek dan prosesis devlopman. Limitasyon ki nou pti dimansyon i anmennen; limitasyon nou marse ek resours ; en ekosistenm frazil e nou vilnerabilite vizavi dezas natirel. An rezilta tsounami 2004 e gro lapli ki ti swiv, en porsyon sibstansyel nou lenfrastriktir (por, semen, pon, miray, eks) ti ganny detri oubyen sibir domaz mazer. In kout nou preski 30% nou ‘GDP’ pour efekte reabilitasyon, e sa in afekte lenplimantasyon lezot proze vi ki nou ti bezwen rediriz nou resours ver rekonstriksyon ek reabilitasyon. Se pour sa rezon ki en Departman Risk ek Dezas in ganny kree avek en sekretarya a plen tan pour enplimant en progranm nasyonal pour redwir risk ek dezas. Bi sa progranm se pour redwir lefe okenn dezas potansyel dan pei. Sa departman i osi responsab pour devlop en plandaksyon vizavi okenn danze iminan. Sekretarya i osi azir koman lazans enplimantasyon pour Komite Dezas Nasyonal ki prezide pa Prezidan Larepiblik. Bidze 2007 i fer provizyon pour en sonm RS3.319 milyon pour sa departman.
Lagrikiltir Msye Spiker, in annan en amelyorasyon sa lannen dan disponibilite bann resours enportan dan lagrikiltir tel ki pestisid, legren ibrid (legim), langre ek drog veteriner, konpare ek bann lannen avan.
Avek bi pour donn sipor zefor fermye pour ogmant prodiksyon, ant Zanvye ek Novanm 2006, gouvernman in enport lavaler RS2.7 milyon sa bann tel resours e i annan bann demars ki pe ganny fer pour asire ki i annan resours an stok pour omwen sis mwan a tou moman dan pei.
En prozedelwa (Farmers & Fisheries Incentive Act) pour donn lankourazman fermye ek lendistri lapes ti vin anfors an Zanvye lannen pase e sa in anmenn bokou benefis dan sekter lagrikiltir.
Bann fermye ek antreprener dan sa sekter in eksplwat bann benefis fiskal ki sa lalwa in met a zot dispozisyon pour enport plis ki RS49 milyon lekipman, ensi ki resours agrikol ek transport.
Sepandan, nou okouran ki i annan serten pwen enportan ki pa kouver anba sa lalwa aktyelman. Pour sa rezon, i annan plizyer diskisyon ki an progre avek bann parti konsernen dan kominote fermye, pour adres sa bann pwen par en lamannman dan sa lalwa. Nou swete ki sa bann demars i a byento konplete e pas dan Lasanble dan sa bann mwan ki pe vini.
En lot proze enportan ki an progre aktyelman i progranm eradikasyon mous melon, finanse par Linyon Eropeen. Sekter Lagrikiltir in fer fas avek en pert RS12-15 milyon an 2006, an rezilta domaz koze par mous melon.
Sa progranm pe mars tre byen, e ver lafen Oktob 2006, en total 28,813 ektar later ki konpri en total 160 sit, t’in ganny enstale avek 85,680 pti blok ensektisid.
Fodre note ki plizyer progranm formasyon ek devlopman kapasite in organize pandan sa lannen avek bi pour ogmant kapasite nasyonal pour konbat lenvazyon mous melon ensi ki lezot lespes egzotik.
Lo kote zannimo, progranm nasyonal pour devlopman elevaz zannimo in ganny mentenir e prodiksyon lavyann poul ek pork in montre en logmantasyon.
I fer mwan plezir pour anonse ki an 2007, en nouvo labatwar pou ganny konstrir e ki gouvernman pou etablir en ‘poultry parent stock unit’ ki pou fourni 100% prodiksyon lokal dizef ek lavyann poul. Sa pou permet plis devlopman dan sa sekter.
Prezidan Michel ti anons en proze lasirans pour rekolt agrikol (Crop Insurance) lannen pase, e sa i dan bann staz konplesyon. Tou le de lakonpannyen lasirans lokal in vin devan avek en progranm lasirans pour rekolt agrikol ki pli atiran pour bann fermye. Pou annan ankor konsiltasyon avek bann parti konsernen (stake holders) e gouvernman in donn son langazman pour vers RS1 milyon dan sa fon lannen prosenn ki a ed fermye ek peser fer fas avek dezas natirel.
Lendistri Lapes Konfyans ki bann envestiser i annan dan nou lendistri lapes pe komans port fri. Langazman sa gouvernman pour kontinyen soutenir sa lanvironnman favorab dan sa lendistri ti tre evidan kan Prezidan ti lans Plan Devlopman pour Lapes sa lannen.
Dan sa plan, 40 ektar lo later konble in ganny rezerve pour aktivite lapes endistriyel. Sa i enkli konstriksyon 2 nouvo mouyaz, langar travay, reparasyon lasenn e lezot fasilite.
Sa bann proze pou kout plis ki RS450 milyon ki pou ganny finanse konzwentman avek sekter prive. Mon fyer pour dir ki negosyasyon avek bann partener enternasyonal i deza an progre e ki travay lo sa 2 mouyaz in komanse.
Sa plan devlopman i osi fer provizyon pour lagrandisman bann fasilite por, lapes artizanal ek konstriksyon nouvo koldstor dan distrik.
Mon fer le pwen ankor en fwa ki sa devlopman pou kree plis lanplwa pour nou bann zenn e ogmant nou abilite pour zer plis deviz etranzer. Sa i a osi ed nou atenn nou lobzektif pour mentenir Por Victoria koman por nimero enn dan Losean Endyen pour transportasyon ton.
Sa proze i fer provizyon pour plis lespas pour bann aktivite tel ki tretman pwason, reparasyon lasenn ek konzelasyon. Sa proze i osi enkli landrwa pour konstrir plis latelye endistriyel ek lofis, parmi, en lofis pour ‘Apostolat de la Mer’.
Devlopman Tourizm Sekter Tourizm pe profit lo sa lanvironnman favorab ki gouvernman in kree pour biznes e konfyans ki nou’n met dan nou prodwi touristik, e i pe atir en nivo lentere ki zanmen nou’n eksperyanse avan.
Malgre serten levennman ki’n annan lefe advers lo tourizm e ki pe afekte sa lendistri partou dan lemonn, Sesel pe aktyelman eksperyans en logmantasyon konsiderab dan nonm touris ki pe ariv dan pei.
Sorti lo en rediksyon 6% dan larive touris an 2004, konpare ek 2003, 2005 in anmenn en logmantasyon 7% ki fer en total, en sanzman pozitiv de 13%.
Nou sours kliyantel tradisyonnel dan Was Lerop i an bonn sante e pe kontinyen grandi tandiski bann nouvo marse dan Mwayen Oriyan, Lazi ek Les Lerop i paret prometan.
Lenvestisman dan bann letablisman ek servis touristik pe kontinyen grandi e i annan ankor plis lentere pour bann nouvo lenvestisman.
Ozordi nou pe war benefis sa lankourazman ki gouvernman in donn lendistri touris atraver ‘Tourism Incentives Act’ 2004. Gouvernman i konsyan toudmenm, ki anba sa ‘Act’, bann pti letablisman pa pe ganny menm konsesyon ki bann gran lotel.
Se pour sa rezon ki en revizyon sa ‘Act’ pou ganny prezante dan Lasanble byento afen ki tou letablisman akomodasyon dan sekter touris i a ganny menm loportinite.
Ler nou konpar pri servis ek komodite touristik avek nou bann konpetiter dan larezyon, nou war ki nou bann pri in mont tre pe an konparezon avek pour zot. Sa in donn Sesel en lavantaz konpetitiv koman en destinasyon vakans an menm tan ki in kontinyen gard son limaz dezirab.
An mezir ki sa lendistri i grandi e prospere, nou pou eksplor bann nouvo loportinite pour ogmant reveni touristik atraver diversifikasyon bann prodwi e nou pou ankouraz partisipasyon plis lantreprener Seselwa.
Peyman santralize Nou pe osi rekomann en sonm RS170 milyon anba peyman santralize pour diferan aktivite, ki enkli aktivite bann lorganizasyon nongouvernmantal ek bann lorganizasyon nasyonal. Sa i reprezant en logmantasyon 2% plis ki bidze 2006.
Anliny avek nouvo skim servis pour peyman gratwite bann travayer servis piblik, nou’n prevwar RS33 milyon pour peyman gratwite ek konpansasyon pour travayer, ki osi reprezant en logmantasyon 2% plis ki bidze 2006.
Swivan i serten bann detay alokasyon bidze anba vot santralize:
‘National Aids Trust Fund’ Parey Prezidan ti anonse dan son ladres Leta Lanasyon an 2006, nou’n fer provizyon en sonm RS1 milyon pour ‘National Aids Trust Fund’ pour ed li konbat kont problenm sida ki pe kontinyen ogmante dan nou sosyete. Sa i nou kontribisyon dan lalit kont sida, ki batir lo nou gran progranm vizavi sa maladi. Nou ti war serten aktivite dan sa progranm pandan lobzervasyon Lazournen Sida semenn pase.
Nou rekonesan pour kontribisyon ki bann endividi ek bann lorganizasyon, ensi ki bann biznes dan sekter prive pe fer. Nou swete ki sa i a ankouraz ankor plis donasyon ek aktivite sorti dan sekter prive pour siport sa lakoz ki en konsern nasyonal.
Fon Nasyonal pour Formasyon (National Training Fund) Pandan sa dernyen 5 an, Gouvernman in depans apepre RS45 milyon par an lo ledikasyon iniversiter nou bann zenn adilt. An total, 1500 etidyan in benefisye zis pandan sa 5 an e zot in al dan bann liniversite partou dan lemonn, depi ‘Imperial College’ ek Liniversite Manchester Langleter, ‘University of China’, ‘University of Otago, New Zealand, ziska Liniversite Moris, tou pre ek nou.
Gouvernman i reafirm son langazman pour kontinyen fer sa provizyon, an vi ki nou pe war bon rezilta sa lenvestisman otour nou an mezir ki bann ‘Graduates’ i retournen pour travay pour zot pei.
Donk, nou’n prevwar en bidze anyel SR45 milyon pour kouver sa kou.
An adisyon, nou osi annan en fon pour formasyon lokal ki fer provizyon pour formasyon bann etidyan ‘NIE’ ensi ki formasyon a distans pour ansenyan ek travayer lasante.
Sa fon pe ogmante par SR2 milyon pour vin SR10 milyon an 2007 pour permet realizasyon nou progranm trening e reantrennman pour bann travayer servis piblik ki pou kordinen par Konsey pour Devlopman Resours Imen.
Sa progranm i osi enkli devlopman profesyonnel travayer servis piblik e i pou menm fasilit formasyon neseser dan ka kot bann anplwaye i anvi sanz zot karyer. En ketsoz ki pe ariv souvan dan lemonn modern kot travayer i annan plis swa ek loportinite, e osi oule plis sanzman dan zot lavi. Sa i a permet zot bouz dan lezot sekter ek lendistri ler lanvi ek loportinite i donnen.
An plis, en sonm RS2 milyon in ganny prevwar pour ‘SIM’ pour formasyon travayer servis piblik avek bi pour ogmant zot lefikasite e donk zot prodiktivite, ki an retour i a permet zot donn en servis pli efektiv e pli efikas.
‘NCC/CARE/DAC’ Msye Spiker, nou tre konsyan bann defi negativ ki nou sosyete i fer fas avek: labi drog ek lalkol; krim ek vyolans; en latitid nanryenfer parmi serten nou sitwayen ki ti kapab tre prodiktiv, e en mank respe pour lotorite ek bann dimoun aze.
Sa bann problenm pa pou kapab ganny adrese zis par bann proze ek progranm ki gouvernman i met an plas.
I annan plizyer lannen depi ki nou pe travay an kolaborasyon avek bann lorganizasyon nongouvernmantal dan zefor pour adres bann tel problenm.
Se pour sa rezon ki sa lannen, nou’n ogmant nou alokasyon bidze pour bann lorganizasyon nongouvernmantal parey ‘CARE’, Konsey pour drog ek lalkol, e ‘NCC’.
Pansyon ek Gratwite En sonm RS35 milyon in ganny prevwar pour peyman gratwite bann travayer servis piblik, pour peyman lafen kontra (end of contract payments) e pour peyman bann pansyon anba bann vye skim.
Sibvansyon pour bann ‘regulatory bodies’ Alokasyon bidze pour bann ‘regulatory bodies’ an 2007 i anviron RS70.85 milyon, ki reprezant en logmantasyon RS5.19 milyon konpare ek bidze 2006.
Sa i prensipalman pour permet fonksyonnman 2 nouvo lorganizasyon ki’n ganny kree : Konsey Nasyonal Devlopman Resours Imen ki pe ganny RS2.5 milyon, e Lotorite Kalifikasyon (Qualifications Authority) ki pe ganny RS1.1 milyon. Lotorite Servis Finansyel Nonbanker (Non Bank Financial Services Authority) ek Bord Touris Sesel (Seychelles Tourism Board) pe ganny sakenn RS1 milyon an plis ki bidze sa lannen, ki reflekte logmantasyon zot bann aktivite.
Sibvansyon pour bann lorganizasyon Parastatal Anba sibvansyon pour bann lorganizasyon parastatal, alokasyon prensipal lannen prosenn i konm swivan: RS50 milyon pour PUC ki reflekte logmantasyon dan pri karbiran; RS25 milyon pour fonksyonnman SBC; RS15 milyon pour fonksyonnman SPTC; RS8.4 milyon pour SIM; RS8 milyon pour IDC; RS5.7 milyon pour PMC; RS4.3 milyon pour SIB; RS3.5 milyon pour SENPA; RS1 milyon ‘L’Union Estate’.
En fon adisyonnel RS18.52 milyon plis ki dan bidze 2006 pe ganny met a dispozisyon serten sa bann parastatal tel ki SBC pour realokasyon zot stasyon ‘Union Vale’, IDC, pour konstriksyon lefrastriktir de baz ensi ki bann swen neseser pour prezervasyon lanvironnman pour fer fas avek bann devlopman ki pe pran plas lo bann zil, e pour SIM, pour siport bann kour ki pe ganny ofer ki enkli progranm formasyon spesyal pour travayer servis piblik.
Byen ki gouvernman i donn sibvansyon serten parastatal, nou rekonnet osi bann parastatal ki pa bezwen okenn finansman ek gouvernman, tel koman Seypec, Air Seychelles, Nouvobanq, Labank Sevings, Labank Devlopman ek SMB. Mon ti a kontan dir de pti mo lo 3 lorganizasyon parastatal partikilye ; sa i SMB, Seypec e Air Seychelles.
SMB Msye Spiker, pa tro lontan, semenn pase, mon ti fer en deklarasyon lo rol SMB dan nou nouvo lekonomi. Ozordi mon reitere ki SMB pou azir koman en fasilitater komers e i pou regilariz komers anliny avek polisi gouvernman, avek bi pour asir en stok regilye e adekwat bann komodite de baz a en pri rezonnab.
Seypec Seypec ti ganny kree pour asire ki tou nou bann bezwen lenerzi i ganny fourni. Avek pasaz letan, Seypec in azout en lebra transportasyon dan son fonksyonnman ki aktyelman pe zer trwa tenk petrol, e resaman, in antre dan en ‘merge’ avek eks SNOC, ki fer ki se li aprezan ki pe kontrol bann aktivite leksplorasyon petrol, en devlopman ki nou krwar i fer bokou sans.
Malgre pri petrol in monte an 2006, Seypec, an kolaborasyon avek gouvernman, in nobou finans konsonmasyon domestik, ki’n kout anviron US$50 milyon. Nou kapab konpar sa avek kou total an 2005 ki ti ariv US$ 38.5 milyon e US$28 milyon an 2004.
Malgre pri eleve e logmantasyon dan konsonmasyon, Seypec in reisi ogmant son profi konsiderableman e i ekspekte montre en profi total de RS1.6 bilyon an 2006. Sa lakonpannyen pe kontinyen fer tre byen dan son bann loperasyon enternasyonal, ki konpri reeksportasyon bann prodwi petrol ek loperasyon tenk. Dan premye 10 mwan son fonksyonnman an 2006, son profi lo son bann loperasyon enternasyonal ti plis ki US$ 31 milyon. Ozordi, i annan 48 Seselwa ki pe travay koman lekipaz oubyen ki pe ganny formen pour zwenn lekipaz sa bann tenk e i annan plan pour ogmant sa kantite lannen prosenn.
Kanta progranm leksplorasyon petrol, Seypec pe kontinyen zwe en rol tre aktiv par promosyon oubyen lasistans bann lakonpannyen ki’n ganny konsesyon oubyen ki pe negosye pour ganny konsesyon pour fer resers petrol. An Me sa lannen, nou ti war larive ‘Geo-Mariner’ ki spesyaliz dan domenn seismik, ki ti’n vin kolekte lenformasyon dan nou teritwar, sid avek Mahe, enkli osi ban ‘Coetivy’ ek ‘Platte’. Sa bann lenformasyon I aktyelman pe ganny analize an Ostrali.
Air Seychelles Nou konpanyen aeryen nasyonal avek son 668 travayer pe kontinyen fer en bon performans menm an fas plis konpetisyon lo bann larout enternasyonal ki vinn sesel osi byen ki ogmantasyon dan pri karbiran.
Air Seychelles pe deza ofer servis ‘e-ticketing’ a 100%, byen avan dat limit ki IATA ti’n mete pou lafen 2007.
Nouvo avyon ant Mahe ek Praslin pe rann en meyer servis e performans sa lakonpanyen pe montrer en portre tre pozitiv an atandan larive son nouvo avyon Boeing. An bref, se sa ki nou apel en « success Story » a la seychelloise, ki ganny anbeli an gran parti par sa « Creole Spirit » ki enspir son management ek son staff.
Proze Kapital En sonm RS200 milyon in prevwar pour bann proze kapital. Se bann proze lakaz ki pou ganny pli gro morso bidze kapital, ki reprezant apepre 29%.
Letablisman en klima lenvestisman ki konpetitiv Msye spiker, enn bann lobzektif sa gouvernman, se pour redwir kou pour fer biznes dan Sesel e an menm tan, rann li pli fasil.
Se dan sa lespri ki nou’n anmenn en rediksyon konsiderab dan ‘trades tax’ a en pwen ki i reste zis en pti nonm komodite enporte ki ankor annan ‘trades tax’ lo la.
Kontribisyon sekirite sosyal ki bann anplwayer i peye li osi i pou desann plis ankor an zanvye 2007, lo bann saler ant RS2,000 a RS10,000, kot ‘rate’ pou desann sorti 30% pou ariv 20% a 30%. Sa rediksyon byensir pou benefisye preski tou anplwayer.
Petet lankourazman pli enportan ki gouvernman pe ofer sekter prive, se sa sanzman dan nivo business tax threshold, e ki Prezidan ti anonse dan dan son ladres Leta Lanasyon pli boner sa lannen.
Depi Zanvye 2007, tou bann biznes ki anmenn en reveni mwens ki RS250,000 par lannen pa pou bezwen pey en ‘business tax’. Sa sanzman pou benefisye tou biznes, e an rezilta, sa plis ki 90% bann biznes ki pe fonksyonnen dan Sesel pa pou bezwen pey taks.
Mon ti a kontan azoute ki Departman Taks in osi senplifye form taks ki bann antreprener i ranpli zot menm pour fer li vinn pli fasil.
Sa gouvernman i kwar ki sa pa ki i’n pran pour redwir presyon ki taks ek kontribisyon fon sekirite sosyal ti mete lo bann biznes i a fer li posib pour annan en logmantasyon dan lenvestisman par sekter prive, ki a son tour, i a permet plis Seselwa ganny loportinite lanplwa.
Pour konplemant sa sistenm taks pli senp, gouvernman in deside konsider en Lotorite Reveni ki pour zer ladministrasyon e koleksyon sa kat sours mazer dan reveni gouvernman dan en lokasyon santralize: sa bann sours reveni i konpri ‘Business Tax’, ‘GST’, ‘Trades Tax’, ek kontribisyon fon sekirite sosyal. Sa i a anmenn bann lavantaz swivan: · ‘Taxpayers’ ek anplwayer i ava annan en sel pwen kontak pour fer tou tranzaksyon taks ek kontribisyon fon sekirite sosyal ki zot annan ek gouvernman
· Redwir lakantite lofis gouvernman ki bann ‘taxpayers’ ek anplwayer i bezwen ale sak mwan
· Fer provizyon pour en landrwa santralize pour donn lenformasyon, pour lanrezistreman e pour edik/enform ‘taxpayers’ ek anplwayer
Sa Lotorite Reveni i a ede pour anmenn en pli o nivo servis pour bann ‘taxpayers’ ek anplwayer, i a permet nou servi nou bann resours avek plis lefikasite e evit diplikasyon travay dan sistenm gouvernman osibyen ki avek ‘taxpayers’ ek anplwayer. Sa lotorite pou vin operasyonnel an Zanvye 2008 afen ki nou avar annan ase letan pou byen met li lo son lipye.
Pti biznes En lobzektif enportan sa gouvernman se pour kontinyen fer promosyon e donn lankourazman devlopman bann pti biznes dan Sesel.
Koman legzanp, Msye Spiker, si ou a rapel, gouvernman ti etabli en ‘package’ pour siport devlopman ‘Cottage Industry’. I en plezir pour anonse ki sa progranm pe mars byen e i annan 800 Seselwa ki’n anrezistre anba la ziska prezan.
Progranm pour asiste drayver taksi pour ranplas zot vye transpor pe osi mars tre byen. Mon fyer pour anonse ki ziska lafen Novanm 2006, plis ki 75 drayver taksi inn ganny asiste.
Gran lobzektif tou sa bann progranm se pour amelyor klima biznes dan Sesel an fezan kou pour fer biznes vin meyer marse e osi pour donn sa abilite tou Seselwa ki anvi realiz zot lanbisyon pour fer marse zot prop biznes. Si nou pran en lot legzanp bann lankourazman ki gouvernman pe donn bann pti antreprener, depi Zanvye sa lannen, en ‘Concessionary Credit Agency’ in ganny met an plas ki ofer bann lón avek konsesyon tou Seselwa ki oule komans zot prop pti biznes.
Ankor en fwa, i fer mwan plezir pour anons sa Lasanble ki ziska prezan, plis ki 296 Seselwa in ganny asiste avek sa lazans pour komans zot prop pti biznes.
Msye Spiker, akoz sa progranm in mars sitan byen, gouvernman in deside pour ogmant fon ki i fer disponib pour sa lazans afen ki i a kapab asiste ankor en pli gran nonm Seselwa lannen prosen. Donk, son alokasyon bidze in ogmante sorti RS3 milyon sa lannen pour al RS4 milyon lannen prosen.
Labank Devlopman in nobou fer provizyon pou bezwen finansyel bann biznes Sesel ki pe grandi. Ziska prezan, DBS in finans apepre 300 proze ki reprezant anviron RS64 milyon. Sa i montre en logmantasyon RS4.5milyon depi lannen pase.
Ozordi, bann lenstitisyon finansyel lo nivo enternasyonal pe montre lentere pour asiste bann pti biznes atraver ‘micro financing’ kot sa bann pti biznes i ganny asiste par en laliny kredi atraver en labank oubyen lenstitisyon finansyel.
Par egzanp, ‘OPEC Fund’ ek EIB ti tre enterese pour ed nou bann pti lotel ek ‘guest house’ atraver progranm ‘Small Enterprises Enhancement Programme’, ki pe ganny enplimante par STB. Sa i form parti nou gran progranm pour promosyon zeneral bann pti ‘guesthouse’ Sesel anba ‘marketing brand’ “Seychelles Secrets”.
Avek bann reform taks e en lekonomi ki pe monte, en reisit fitir i preske garanti e mon a ankouraz tou Seselwa, e sekter prive pour pran sa defi e sezi sa loportinite.
Privatizasyon Progranm privatizasyon avek partisipasyon piblik an zeneral in komanse depi lannen pase avek SACOS. Msye Spiker, nou fyer pour dir ki ozordi, privatizasyon SACOS in fini konplete. Prosen staz sa progranm se privatizasyon Nouvobanq ek Labank Sevings ki Prezidan in fini anonse ki pou komanse an Out sa lannen. Malerezman nou’n ganny en pe retar akoz nou pe met an plas bann striktir neseser pour kree en veikil lenvestisman ki a ed piblik an zeneral pour aste bann ‘shares’ nenport ki moman ki i annan bann tel loportinite a lavenir. Nou’n war li neseser ki i annan en striktir spesifik pour fer sa. Sa striktir pe ganny met an plas dapre bann norm e pratik enternasyonal.
Nou oule anonse ki tou bann preparasyon neseser in fini konplete e ki bann privatizasyon ki’n pibliye, ki konpri Nouvobanq, SSB e serten younit dan SMB pou komanse definitivman boner an Fevriye lannen prosen. Detay lo sa veikil lenvestisman pou anonse tre byento.
Promosyon lenvestisman Gouvernman pou kontinyen dan son zefor pour amelyor klima biznes dan sa pei e pour partisip dan bann regroupman mazer dan larezyon.
Sa i enkli ladopsyon en stratezi pour lenvestisman enternasyonal (Foreign Direct Investment Strategy) ek en Polisi Konpetisyon. Nou pou osi revwar ‘Investment Code’ pour fer li vin pli anliny avek bann pratik biznes enternasyonal. An adisyon, diferan parti bann lezislasyon dan sa domenn pe ganny revwar e modernize.
Servis Finansyel Labank Santral pou kontinyen regilariz e siperviz bann labank pour asire ki stabilite sistenm finansyel i kontinyen.
I en konsansis zeneral sepandan, ki en bon lankadreman pour regilariz e siperviz bann labank i selman en parti bann mekanizm ki neseser pour asir stabilite finansyel.
Vi ki Labank Santral i regilariz selman sekter banker, i ti neseser pour reegzamin regilasyon sekter finansyel ki andeor sa sistenm.
An rezilta, depi Novanm lannen pase, gouvernman in etabli Lotorite Servis Finansyel Nonbanker (Non-Banking Financial Services Authority). Rol prensipal sa lotorite se pour ranforsi kapasite pei pour regilariz bann servis finansyel ki nonbanker.
Komers Depi 2004, Sesel in pran en stratezi liberalizasyon gradyel e progresif.
Lobzektif prensipal se pour ouver nou lekonomi; e nou kapab fer sa atraver en sistenm pli ‘streamlined’ dan nou prosedir gouvernmantal, modernizasyon nou lankadreman lezislativ, fasilite pour partisipasyon sekter prive e pour ogmant nou kapasite pour konpetisyon enternasyonal.
Nou liberalizasyon ekonomik in annan sa bann rezilta swivan: · rediksyon tarif lo enportasyon lo 87% itenm a 0% · rediksyon kou pour laysenns lenportasyon · labolisyon komodite monopoli · eliminasyon permi lenportasyon pour preski tou komodite eksepte detrwa komodite restrikte · reform taks
An rezilta, in annan en logmantasyon konsiderab dan lenportasyon sorti RS1,233 bilyon an 2005 pour vin RS1,633 a lafen Oktob an 2006. Sa i reprezant en logmantasyon 32%. Sa logmantasyon dan lenportasyon i rezilta lenvestisman direk lo nivo enternasyonal ensi ki lenvestisman domestik.
Msye Spiker, sa prosedir liberalizasyon ki nou’n anbark lo la i en metod ki’n prouve, pour anmenn progre ekonomik e pour amelyor lavi nou pep.
Dan sa metod liberalizasyon ki nou’n swazir, nou’n gard antet langazman gouvernman pour asir sekirite nou bann prodikter ek konsomater domestik. Fondasyon nenport lekonomi i baze lo komers. Ki swa i tourizm, akse avek marse pour nou prodwi lapes, transportasyon oubyen reeksportasyon petrol, tousala i tourn otour komers. Nou deza pe partisip konsiderableman dan komers enternasyonal.
Defi ki nou pe fer fas avek se pour ganny ankor plis komers. Pour nou arive fer sa, nou bezwen vin pli konpetitiv, e ankor pli enportan, nou bezwen met nou lankadreman lezislativ e enstitisyonnel anliny avek bann regilasyon e pratik komers lo nivo enternasyonal.
Se dan sa lentere ki nou pe negosye en Lagreman Partener Ekonomik (Economic Partnership Agreement) avek Linyon Eropeen pour sofgard akse preferansyel pour nou bann prodwi pwason lo marse Eropeen.
Sa lagreman pou pran lefe an 2008 e i pou anliny avek regilasyon ‘World Trade Organisation’.
Nou pe ganny en peryod gras pour asire ki nou bann lalwa ek lankadreman lezislativ i an akordans avek sa ki demande lo nivo enternasyonal.
Msye Spiker, globalizasyon i petet pa en nesesite pou serten pei, me i en keksoz ki inevitab. Pli gran konsern bann pti leta zil parey nou se pa sa prosesis globalizasyon, me sa lavites ki gran pei devlope i ensiste ki nou swiv. Donk i tre enportan pou nou kapab asiz otour sa latab WTO pou met nou bann konsern devan ansanm ek lezot pei ki partaz nou pwenn-vi, sinon nou pou ganny met a lekar.
Msye spiker, nou’n dedye en tim miltiministeryel pour travay lo bann reform neseser e boner lannen prosen, gouvernman pour anmenn en mosyon devan sa lasanble pour rekomans negosyasyon pour aksesyon Sesel dan WTO.
Biznes ‘Off-shore’ Kanta biznes ‘off-shore’, Sesel pe kontinyen eksperyans progre konsiderab koman en ‘off-shore jurisdiction’. Nou annan 32,000 lakonpannyen lo rezis IBC aktyelman, e ankor 8,500 i ekspekte formen an 2007.
Konmela, i annan 36 ‘corporate service providers’ ki annan laysenns e i annan 70 laysenns spesyal ki aktiv.
Dan zón komers enternasyonal, i annan 50 lakonpannyen avek laysenns, enkli IOT. IOT i ankor pli gro lakonpannyen an term reveni e anplwayer. Zón komers lib (SITZ) i anploy preski 2,800 dimoun e plis ki 56% sa personnel i Seselwa.
Aktyelman, biznes ‘off-shore’ pe zer en profi $22 milyon atraver provizyon servis ‘off-shore’. Zón komers lib i ekspekte anmenn en profi apepre $150 milyon an 2006.
Gouvernman, an kolaborasyon avek lezot lorganizasyon ‘off-shore’ pe konsider ranforsi bann lezislasyon biznes enternasyonal ki egziste avek bi pour amelyor servis ki annan konmela ensi ki bann nouvo aktivite tel ki fon mityel (mutual funds), ‘stock exchange’ e tranzaksyon banker ‘off-shore’.
Gouvernman pe aktivman ankouraz devlopman son ‘network’ pour evit doublir trete ‘taxation’ avek lezot pei. Aktyelman, nou annan bann tel lagreman avek 10 pei, bann dernyen ki enkli Thailand, Malaysia, Cyprus ek Vietnam. Nou pe osi negosye avek 16 lezot pei e nou’n konklir bann ‘DTA’ sa lannen avek Belgique, Quatar, Bahrain e UAE. Sa bann lagreman pou vin efektiv an 2007.
Fodre note ki Sesel i komann respe bann lorganizasyon enternasyonal pour son langazman pour respekte bann norm enternasyonal kot i konsern blansisaz larzan e finansman teroris.
Ansanm avek son bann partener, SIBA pe kontinyen travay avek tou parti konsernen pour asire ki Sesel i kontinyen ganny trete koman en sant biznes enternasyonal ki serye.
Bann defi ki Sesel pe fer fas avek Msye Spiker, tou sa ki mon’n dir i montre ki nou progranm reform ekonomik in komans port fri.
Byensir i annan bann defi ki nou bezwen fer fas avek si nou anvi asire ki nou evit bann blokaz ki kapab afekte nou zefor pour soutenir nou progre ekonomik.
Sa i bann defi ki nou’n idantifye: Lanvironnman, Lanplwa, Teknolozi Lenformasyon, Lenerzi, e finalman, nou kapital Victoria. Lanvironnman Msye Spiker, sa gouvernman in toultan annan en polisi tre for vizavi bann kestyon lanvironnman, e i’n ganny rekonnet lo nivo enternasyonal dan son zefor pour atenn soutenabilite - savedir, devlopman ki pran an kont lanvironnman. Tandiski nou rekonnet frazilite nou pei e son depandans lo son labote natirel, nou bezwen rekonnet ki son lekonomi osi in devlope e an rezilta, in annan en logmantasyon dan lakantite salte ki i prodwi. Kan nou zet salte an bonnavini, souvandfwa son konsekans se propagasyon maladi e linondasyon.
En Sesel sal i pa dan lentere personn. Okontrer, i donn en move zimaz lo en pei ki renonmen pour son labote eksepsyonnel ek son bann lans vyerz. Piblik, ensi ki sa lasanble in eksprim konsern lo sa move labitid ki pe afekte nou pei.
Gouvernman in antre an diskisyon avek Lasanm Komers ensi ki lezot ‘stake-holders’ dan sekter prive, pour inisye lenplimantasyon bann mezir ekonomik ki a ankouraz resiklaz e dekouraz dimoun zet salte partou.
Konsansis zeneral avek tou ‘stake-holders’ se ki en tel progranm i a ganny enplimante par faz. An prensip nou’n dakor pour komans premye faz a lafen premye kar 2007.
Premye faz i en proze pour met en depozit ki a ganny ranbourse lo tou boutey ‘PET’ ki ganny prodwi oubyen enporte dan nou pei. Sa i a ganny siporte par bann sant koleksyon ki pou enstale en pe partou dan pei.
Dan bann semenn ki ape vini, nou pou finaliz bann modalite avek Lasanm Komers ek sekter prive. Bann detay i ava anonse byento.
Lezot mezir i konsern sak plastik, bwat ‘take-away’ ek lezot kalite resipyan, ki nou pou dil avek dan dezyenm faz progranm.
Lalwa pou osi ganny revize pour asir provizyon bann mezir pinisyon ek mezir lankourazman e fer provizyon pour en lanvironnman apropriye pour ankouraz bann sitwayen responsab e en Sesel pli prop.
Mon espere ki zot tou zot in admir sa sak vakwa ki sa dokiman bidze in ganny prezante ladan e ki reprezant en pti pa pou nou minister, pou sansibiliz lepep seselwa dan sa domennn.
Lanplwa Lamannman lalwa lanplwa in anmenn bann sanzman pozitiv:
· Fleksibilite dan lanplwa – revwar provizyon pour travay bann zournalye (casual workers) sorti 21 zour pour vin trwa mwan. Sa i a permet bann lotel pour anploy staf an plis pandan bann peryod lafet san bezwen prosedir formel.
· Lalwa redundancy - prosedir in vin pli kourt pour asire ki bann anplwayer ki fer fas avek problenm ekonomik e ki bezwen adapte avek nouvo sityasyon pa tarde pour termin serten travayer.
· Konze anyel – travayer in ganny detrwa zour an plis pour repoze la ki zot wikenn ek konze piblik pa ganny kalkile koman konze anyel.
I ankor annan sa bezwen pour pran ka avek sa problenm mank mendev.
Dapre sa dernyen resansman, ziska Septanm 2006, lakantite dimoun ki dan lanplwa ti 43, 224, e poursantaz sa ki pe rod travay baze lo sa ki’n anrezistre in ariv en rikord 2.9%.
I annan en kantite loportinite travay dan nou lekonomi ki pe kontinyen devlope.
Pandan sa prosen 3 an, avek konstriksyon bann nouvo lotel zis bann sekter lanplwa ki annan relasyon avek tourizm in permet kreasyon 4,000 plas travay e avek devlopman dan sekter lapes ek zón biznes enternasyonal, pou annan ankor 1,500 plas. Nou lafors travayer pe ogmante par selman 1,400 par an.
Msye Spiker, tousala i vedir ki nou pou bezwen annan rekour avek lenportasyon travayer etranze.
Pou annan en bezwen pour gouvernman ek son partener sosyal pour antreprann en evalyasyon profon lo polisi nou lafors travayer pour asire ki tou Seselwa i ganny travay ki zot konpetan ladan e kot sa i posib, limit sa bezwen pour anploy etranze.
Teknolozi Lenformasyon Dan sa domenn, nou’n war bokou progre ; · bann ki enplike dan telekominikasyon in kontinyen ganny konsesyon taks lo lekipman. Sa in fasilit lenvestisman kontinyel dan lenfrastriktir de baz pour zot kapab elev standar dan zot ‘network’ ek zot servis.
· Plis rediksyon dan tarif telefonn (mobil ek telefonn fiks).
· Nou’n war lentrodiksyon servis telefonn mobil GPRS par ‘Cable & Wireless.’
· Sa i permet lesanz mesaz miltimedya e osi akse avek enternet atraver telefonn mobil.
· Servis telefonn mobil 3enm zenerasyon par ‘Airtel’. Sa servis i permet transfer ankor plis lenformasyon par telefonn mobil. I ava osi permet servis ‘software’ ek laplikasyon pli konplike dan servis telefonn mobil.
Msye Spiker, nou bezwen ogmant nou lavantaz konpetitiv dan nou kapasite ‘bandwidth’ ki ansemoman i limite. Gouvernman i rekonnet ki sa i en lanpesman dan nou devlopman.
Nou bezwen konekte avek en ‘network broadband’ telekominikasyon global par en ‘fibre optic cable’ soumaren, swa par koneksyon avek sa kab ‘EECE network project ‘ pour Lafrik, oubyen konekte avek en pei vwazen ki byen develope, oubyen ankor enstal sa koneksyon neseser avek Nor Lafrik kin deza konekte avek sa network global pou nou kapab ganny bann tarif bandwidth konpetitif .
Gouvernman pe konsider tou sa bann opsyon e ava pran desizyon dan sa bann mwan ki ape vini.
An plis ki sa, nou bezwen revwar lalwa ‘broadcasting & telecommunication’ pour fer li vin pli anliny avek bann problenm ki pe konstaman arive (lenpakt nouvo teknolozi, bann regilasyon ki egziste) ensi ki bann meyer pratik enternasyonal.
Lenerzi Msye Spiker, kominote lemonn antye in realize ki lanpesman pour krwasans ekonomik se pri karbiran ki tro ser.
Sesel pa’n ganny eparnye. Nou depans pour konsomasyon karbiran in ogmante sorti US$38.51 milyon lannen pase pour vin US$49.43 milyon sa lannen, en logmantasyon 30%.
Sa i akoz in annan en logmantasyon dan pri karbiran e osi en logmantasyon dan konsomasyon lokal. Konsomasyon lokal in ogmante sorti 91,986 tonn metrik lannen pase pour vin 104,185 tonn sa lannen.
Zis sa lannen, nou’n war en logmantasyon rikord dan lenportasyon veikil pour vin 560.
Finansman nou bezwen karbiran e zer nou sistenm transpor, sa de keksoz ki telman lie avek kanmarad Msye Spiker ki in vin en priyorite ek en defi pour nou pti leta zil, spesyalman la ki nou lekonomi pe amelyore. Nou pou bezwen vin avek en plan pour zesyon e konservasyon lenerzi.
Victoria Finalman, dernyen defi ki devan nou se lavil Victoria li menm, akoz an mezir ki nou lekonomi i amelyore, an mezir ki lendistri touris pe fleri, nou pou bezwen en nouvo souf ler fre dan nou pti kapital ki azir koman sa leker ki ponp lavi dan nou.
Pour sa rezon, gouvernman pe etidye plizyer posibilite dan bann prosen mwan pour kapab definir en nouvo vizyon pour nou kapital - rol ki i a kapab zwe dan larezyon, relasyon ki i kapab kree avek bann zean biznes ki pe leve otour nou, e sa laspe estetik e kiltirel tre prometan ki i reprezante pour nou popilasyon, e osi fason ki i devret zer son problenm sirkilasyon.
Konklizyon Msye Spiker, bidze ki mon pe prezante i pran an kont nou bann bezwen dan lavenir :
· Loportinite ki a dispozisyon nou zenn, swen pour nou dimoun aze, servis lasante ek ledikasyon ki nou sitwayen pou bezwen, sekirite nou nasyon, krwasans nou lekonomi.
Nou sikse koman en nasyon in batir lo bon planifikasyon ek travay dir. Nou pou bezwen bokou plis pour nou kontinyen avanse, e mon demann sakenn de nou pour fer sakenn son bout pour nou ariv lo prosen letap nou krwasans ekonomik ensi ki sa meyer kalite lavi ki nou merite.
I swe senser gouvernman ki sekter prive i bouz an avan dan en fason pozitif e an mezir ki i fer li i regard dan saler travayer e zot formasyon neseser.
I reste mwan zis pour eksprim mon lapresyasyon pour tou dimoun ki’n ed mwan dan preparasyon sa bidze –
Prezidan, Vis-Prezidan pour zot gidans, bann minis pour zot sipor, bann minister, departman, parastatal, pour zot kontribisyon e osi mon staf devoue dan Minister Finans pour zot led.
Mon zwenn avek zot pour ofer nou Prezidan ek lepep Seselwa nou remersiman senser ek lapresyasyon pour zot sipor kontinyel ensi ki zot travay dir, e mon pran sa loportinite pour swet zot ek tou Seselwa Zwaye Noel e Bonn Ane. Mon remersiman senser i al pou ou osi Msye Spiker e pour tou manm Lasanble.
Prezan mon rekomann sa bidze pour zot laprouvasyon. |
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