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LAUNCHING OF
SEYCHELLES STRATEGY 2017
BY PRESIDENT JAMES A. MICHEL
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, VICTORIA
FRIDAY 23RD MARCH 2007
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the launch of the
“Seychelles Strategy 2017”.
This strategy is being proposed as a vision of where Seychelles should
be going over the next ten years.
The objective of this strategy is far reaching and ambitious: to double
Seychelles’ GDP in the next ten years. This will be achieved by focusing
on the development and expansion of the tourism, fisheries and financial
services sectors. All of these show real opportunities for exponential
economic growth.
The expansion of these sectors will also allow for further growth and
diversification in other related sectors, for example information
technology and communications.
Before we look at the strategy a little more in depth, allow me to
mention some of the key principles which have influenced the document we
are proposing today.
The major objective is economic empowerment of all members of our
population which will be encouraged at every step by the government. It
is about participation in wealth creation.
However, to achieve sustainable economic development a strong base of
social cohesion and equitable distribution of wealth must be maintained.
Economic expansion will also always be done within the confines of the
highest international environmental standards.
The strategy is also about partnership. The growth envisaged within the
strategy will be led by the private sector with the full support of the
government as economic facilitator, requiring an overhaul of the
administration’s approach to service provision to Seychellois and to
international investors.
The involvement and commitment to national development by all
stakeholders is vital to the success of the strategy. A vigorous and
impartial monitoring system, to analyse the effectiveness of the
policies implemented, will be established, and its findings will be used
for policy alterations if necessary and keep the public aware of
economic progress.
The strategy is thus in many ways about a change in the way that
Government works. It is about delivering a smarter approach to business.
Government as facilitator, not implementer.
This shift will also be rooted in transparency and good governance.
Government efficiency will be enhanced through the development of clear
areas of personal and organisational responsibility and effective
channels of communication with the public.
The separation of policy from implementation will influence the
organisation of our public service and allow for more informed and
objective decision making.
The strategy finally depends on enhanced human resource development.
Standards of both government and private sector service delivery will be
bolstered through improved training. Where necessary the appropriate
institutions will be strengthened, with increased input and direction
from the private sector. We are aiming to build a multi-skilled
workforce able to maximise its potential in our service economy.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Before moving on, I would like to thank the young project team who have
been working hard to undertake the preliminary research which was
necessary to come up with this strategy. They still have a lot of work
ahead of them as we move to the next phase which will involve
consultation with all the major stakeholders and formulation of action
plans.
Today’s document is a first step. Between now and the end of May 2007,
consultation between government and the private sector and other
stakeholders will take place to prepare the plans of action to be
implemented in July of this year.
We look forward to your contributions.
We are ready to move forward and make things happen.
Thank you.
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