1:59 am August 21, 2012
A high-level 15-member delegation from the Republic of Seychelles
arrived in Colombo yesterday on a three-day visit.
Led by President of Seychelles James Alix Michel, the delegation will comprise, among others, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Paul Adam, Minister of Natural Resources and Industry Peter Sinon, Delhi-based High Commissioner of Seychelles to Sri Lanka Waven William, Chief Press Secretary Srdjana Janosevic and Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation CEO Antoine Onezime.
“We have not received such a strong delegation from Seychelles in recent times. This is a historic occasion for Sri Lanka-Seychelles bilateral trade and general relations and will boost current trade volumes hovering at $ 2 m,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen yesterday, welcoming the delegation.
In 2011, Sri Lanka’s exports to Seychelles stood at $ 0.83 m while imports were at $ 1.64 m. Main products exported from Sri Lanka include tea and fishing vessels. Gems and jewellery, furniture, boats and plastic products have export potential in the Seychelles market.
In April, Adam revealed to Bathiudeen in Colombo that Sri Lanka had become the shipbuilding hub for Seychelles. He also informed the latter that Seychelles was keen on joint holiday packages with Sri Lankan travel firms combining Seychelles beaches and Sri Lanka’s scenic tea hills for tourists exiting from Seychelles and the Dubai hub.
Thereafter, In June, William revealed in Colombo that the Development Bank of Seychelles, the main financial institution in Seychelles with long-term lending facilities in all areas of the Seychelles economy, is looking for a banking partnership with Sri Lanka. The Department of Commerce of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has scheduled, among others, a high-level breakfast meeting on 22 August (Wednesday) morning focusing on B2B and bilateral trade spheres.
Minister Bathiudeen will be welcoming the Seychelles delegation followed by in-depth presentations by Neil Marine (on boating industry potentials), Ceynor Foundation (fisheries and harbour potentials), Small Hydropower Association (power) and TBC (health potentials).
