AGP Executive Report

Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance after Middle East disruptions and mapping a 2027 shift from planning to implementation, with arrivals picking up in July and August and Russia leading the rebound while China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey show growth. VAT & Policy: Cabinet approved amendments to Seychelles’ VAT Refunds Regulations to extend a VAT exemption for certain construction services linked to VAT-exempt goods imported in disassembled form. Bilateral Ties: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss expanding economic and tourism cooperation. Football & Health: Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) unveiled a packed international programme for the new season, while Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked travel to the DRC. Regional Youth Football: COSAFA moved the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier host from Mauritius to Mozambique, with Seychelles drawn in Group A. Sports Spotlight: Seychelles Cricket Association’s T20 Challenge 2026 wrapped up with GSP 7s winning Division One and Narayan XI taking Division Two. International Sports in Seychelles: Young footballers in Grand Anse Mahé received equipment from MNA Nelsia Balisa-Lepathy, boosting district training for ages 5–10. Global Travel Rules: Thailand announced visa-free stay changes from Sept. 15, with Seychelles set for a 15-day exemption.

Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu to review 2026 performance, address disruption fallout from the Middle East, and set a 2027 shift from planning to implementation, with visitor arrivals gaining momentum in July and August and Russia leading the rebound. China–Seychelles Ties: Seychelles’ Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein met Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan to discuss deeper cooperation in cultural heritage protection, archives management, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Sports Calendar: The Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) unveiled an intense international programme for the new season, with national teams and beach soccer set for Olympic qualification, COSAFA U-20, CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers and the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Regional Football Update: COSAFA moved the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations/COSAFA qualifier from Mauritius to Mozambique, with Seychelles drawn in Group A alongside Namibia and Mauritius. Ebola Disruption: Seychelles’ Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from travelling to the DRC. Blue Economy & Maritime Links: Seychelles is also exploring aquaculture and fisheries ties with India’s CMFRI, as maritime cooperation and the blue economy remain key themes in regional engagement.

Seychelles-India Diplomacy: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in New Delhi, reaffirming the long friendship and discussing stronger parliamentary cooperation and India’s support for promoting Yoga on the islands. Seychelles-China Tourism & Culture: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to explore deeper ties in cultural heritage protection, archives management, fashion exchanges, tourism promotion and skills training. Regional Football: COSAFA moved the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations/COSAFA qualifier from Mauritius to Mozambique, with Group B including Seychelles alongside South Africa, Lesotho and Angola, running 18–27 September. Seychelles Football Federation Update: The SFF unveiled a packed international programme for the new season, spanning Olympic qualification, COSAFA U-20, CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers and the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Public Health Impact on Sport: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked travel from Seychelles to the DRC. Tourism Policy Watch: Thailand announced visa-free changes from 15 September—30 days for most travellers, with Seychelles and Mauritius getting 15 days.

Diplomacy & Tourism: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation, including economic and tourism links. Regional Aviation Safety: Ukraine urged airlines to avoid Russian airspace after drone activity led to airport closures and delays; FlightConnections lists nonstop routes linking Russia with Seychelles and other African states. Visa Rules for Seychellois Travellers: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for many countries from 15 September, while Seychelles (and Mauritius) will get a separate 15-day exemption. Parliamentary Ties: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held talks with Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta, highlighting shared democratic values and support for yoga. Health & Sports Impact: Seychelles football club Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked travel to the DRC. Economy & Social Investment: Seychelles plans a new fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with independent governance to protect public resources. Culture & Community: A Seychelles reggae fan, Mervin Henriette, shares how the music has taken him from local stages to international festivals. Sports Round-Up: Seychelles Cricket Association T20 Challenge 2026 grand finals delivered tight finishes, with GSP 7s and Narayan XI taking titles.

AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor: Seychelles is set to host the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor after the AfCFTA Secretariat and Quest Ghana signed a US$5.17B deal in Accra, with the project’s HQ in Victoria and a plan to build a digital marketplace, interoperable payments and an African minerals/commodities exchange. Tourism Diplomacy: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cooperation on cultural heritage protection, archives, fashion exchanges, tourism promotion and skills training. Sports—Youth Football: COSAFA’s Under-20 qualifier host changed from Mauritius to Mozambique, with the tournament still running Sept 18–27; Seychelles are in Group A alongside Mozambique, Namibia and Mauritius. Football—Ebola Disruption: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after a public health order blocked travel amid the Ebola (Bundibugyo) outbreak in the DRC. Cricket: Seychelles Cricket Association T20 Challenge 2026 grand finals delivered a tight Division One finish (GSP 7s over SL United) and a dominant Division Two win (Narayan XI). Local Governance—Social Fund: Finance Minister Pierre Laporte says Seychelles plans a new fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with independent management to protect public resources. Culture—Reggae Fan: Entertainment features Seychellois reggae devotee Mervin Henriette, whose passion has taken him to major international festivals.

Seychelles-India ties: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in Delhi, praising shared democratic values and centuries-old civilisational links, and highlighting India’s support for popularising Yoga in Seychelles. Seychelles residence rules: The government set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered, including having family or domestic ties to Seychelles and making (or planning) a contribution to life in the islands. Seychelles development fund: Finance Minister Pierre Laporte says a new fund will target health, education and infrastructure, with independent governance to protect public resources. AfCFTA digital trade push: AfCFTA signed an agreement with QUEST Ghana to host and run an AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor in Seychelles, starting with a pilot of several countries. Tourism and visas regionally: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for most travellers from 15 September, while Seychelles and Mauritius get 15 days. Wildlife news: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia received four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, the first time the species has been housed there. Cruise spotlight: Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise that includes Praslin in Seychelles.

Seychelles Residence Rules: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered: they must not be a prohibited immigrant, they need family or domestic ties to Seychelles, and they must show a contribution they’ve made or plan to make to life in the islands. India–Seychelles Ties: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles’ National Assembly Speaker Azarel Yolanda Ernesta, praising the long-running friendship and marking 50 years of independence and diplomatic relations. Russia–Seychelles Diplomacy: Russia’s new ambassador to Seychelles, Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev, said his top priority is maintaining the momentum in bilateral cooperation across tourism, culture, trade, sport, research and healthcare. Tourism & Travel: Thailand’s visa-free policy is changing from 15 September, cutting stays for Seychelles and Mauritius to 15 days (and most other eligible countries to 30 days). Wildlife & Conservation: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia has welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, the first time the species has been housed there. Sports: Seychelles’ Foresters FC is set to face Angola’s Wiliete de Benguela in a CAF Champions League preliminary match on 10 September, with Malawian referee David Chinoko appointed to officiate.

CAF Football Appointments: Seychelles’ Foresters FC will face Angola’s Wiliete de Benguela on 10 September with David Chinoko as centre referee, while another CAF Interclub tie in the region also features Malawian officials including Easter Bright Kalikokha Zimba. Immigration & Residency: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet for a residence permit, including not being a prohibited immigrant, having family or domestic ties to the islands, and showing a contribution they have made or plan to make to life in Seychelles. Blue Economy & Research: A Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visited India’s CMFRI in Kochi to discuss fisheries research, sustainable management and mariculture, building on an MoU for cooperation in agriculture and fisheries. Tourism Demand: Seychelles is seeing growing interest from GCC families and multi-generational travellers, with resorts highlighting longer stays and family-friendly facilities. International Diplomacy: In an interview, Russia’s new ambassador to Seychelles said 2026 marked 50 years of diplomatic ties and outlined priorities including culture, language promotion and deeper bilateral cooperation.

Residence Permits: Seychelles says foreigners must meet three conditions before a residence permit is considered: they must not be a prohibited immigrant, they need family or domestic ties to the islands, and they must show a contribution they’ve made or plan to make to life in Seychelles. Tourism & Travel Rules: Thailand has published new Royal Gazette regulations cutting visa-free stays for 60 countries from 60 days to 30 days from Sept. 15; Mauritius and Seychelles get 15 days, and visa-on-arrival is reduced to just three nationalities. Blue Economy & Fisheries: A Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visited India’s CMFRI in Kochi to discuss fisheries research, sustainable management and mariculture, building on MoUs for cooperation in agriculture and fisheries. Sports: Seychelles will face Malawi in Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers, with other pairings including Tanzania vs Mozambique and Ghana vs Nigeria. Environment: Reports warn the Indian Ocean is under mounting stress, with marine heatwaves and El Niño expected to intensify, putting reefs and coastal livelihoods at risk.

Tourism & Families: Seychelles is pitching itself beyond honeymoons, with GCC visitors and multi-generational families increasingly drawn by visa-free access, connectivity and personalised stays, including residence-style options at Canopy by Hilton Seychelles. New Brand Spotlight: Niva Hotels & Resorts, a Maldivian-owned Versa Hospitality brand, is positioning itself around “Free to Be” experiences across distinctive Indian Ocean destinations. Climate & Health Warning: Experts say air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, but its growing use also worsens global warming and strains power grids. Blue Economy & Research: Seychelles is exploring deeper fisheries and aquaculture cooperation with India, including a Seychelles delegation’s visit to India’s CMFRI to build a shared research agenda. Sports: The CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers draw sets Seychelles against Malawi, with Ghana and Nigeria also paired. Local Interest: Seychelles’ Aride conservation story highlights how protection helped restore seabird breeding after decades of exploitation. Business/Finance: Zoomex wrapped up its “Trade the Tide” side event at Coinfest Asia 2026 in Bali, aiming to boost SEA market adoption. Justice: South Africa’s Tembisa Hospital alleged looting suspect Stefan Govindraju was granted R200,000 bail after returning from Seychelles.

Tembisa Hospital Probe: Alleged procurement syndicate boss Stefan Joel Govindraju, arrested after returning from the Seychelles, was granted R200,000 bail in South Africa as prosecutors said they would not oppose bail due to his cooperation since 2023 and ongoing talks. Seychelles-India Blue Economy: Seychelles explored deeper fisheries and aquaculture cooperation with India, including research links with CMFRI in Kochi, as both sides push sustainable marine resource management. Environment Watch: New reporting warns the Indian Ocean is under mounting stress, with marine heatwave conditions and El Niño expected to intensify—raising risks for reefs, fish and coastal livelihoods. Wildlife Conservation: A look back at Aride’s transformation—from exploitation to protection—credits a 1973 Cadbury-funded rescue that helped restore habitat for about one million seabirds. Sports (Seychelles in focus): Beach soccer qualifiers draw Seychelles against Malawi, while local football coverage highlights Premier League pre-season standings and judo success in Réunion. Tech & Learning: Google expanded its free AI Plus offer to students across 27 African countries including Seychelles.

Seychelles-India Blue Economy Talks: Seychelles and India held high-level fisheries talks in New Delhi, with both sides pushing for sustainable management of marine resources, stronger aquaculture and hatchery work, tuna fisheries and post-harvest technology, plus plans to use digital systems and even AI for harvest management. Women in STEM Push: Seychelles First Lady Véronique Herminie backed Mission ShakthiSAT, urging girls to break career barriers and reach for space science, satellites and leadership, drawing on her own rise in the male-dominated construction sector. Local Sports Update: Seychelles judo team is set for the 9th International Open des Mascareignes de Judo in Réunion (Aug 29–30), aiming to gain experience and showcase progress. Community Event: Seychelles Extravaganza returns to the Hilltop Community Centre (Aug 29, 4pm–1am) with food, music, games, entertainment and a free entry community programme. Regional Football Draw: Seychelles were paired against Malawi in the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with ties decided over two legs in October. Global Tech Education: Google expanded its free one-year AI Plus offer to students across 27 African countries, including Seychelles.

Blue Economy Talks: Seychelles and India agreed to deepen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, including sustainable marine resource management, tuna processing and use of digital tools and AI for harvest management. Women in Leadership: Seychelles First Lady Veronique Herminie urged girls to break career barriers at India’s Women Leadership and Diplomacy Summit, pointing to space-education programme Mission ShakthiSAT. Conservation Spotlight: A feature revisits how Seychellois accountant Guy Savy helped turn Bird Island from near-collapse into a major seabird breeding success story. Sports—Beach Soccer: CAF Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers pair Ghana with Nigeria, with Seychelles drawn against Malawi; ties are set for October with Senegal hosting the finals. Tech & Education: Google expanded its free one-year Google AI Plus offer to students across 27 African countries, including Seychelles. Local Community Event: Seychelles Extravaganza returns to Hilltop Community Centre in High Wycombe with food, music and entertainment, plus a free entry community programme. Climate Outlook: El Niño is expected to bring contrasting rainfall across Southern Africa, with Seychelles forecast among areas likely to see wetter conditions.

Seychelles–India Blue Economy: Seychelles and India held high-level talks in New Delhi to deepen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, with both sides focusing on sustainable marine resource management, capacity building, data systems and even AI for harvest management. Local Community Events: The Seychelles Extravaganza is set for Hilltop Community Centre in Crest Road on Saturday (4pm–1am), featuring Seychellois food, music, games, a close-up magician and free entry with an RSVP and voluntary contribution. Sports & Youth: Seychelles will be among the guest nations at the 2028 National Youth Games in Eswatini’s rotation plan, after being invited to the recent Eswatini edition. International Sports Streaming: DAZN secured LaLiga EA SPORTS rights across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons (2026/27–2028/29), bringing all 380 matches per season to fans in 48 markets. Global Finance Watch: Hong Kong’s SFC added SBCFX and related entities to its unlicensed alert list after a trading collapse linked to gold investors losing USDT holdings. Weather Outlook: El Niño is expected to drive contrasting rainfall across Southern Africa, with Seychelles forecast among areas likely to see above-normal rainfall.

Blue Economy Diplomacy: Seychelles and India held high-level talks in New Delhi to deepen cooperation on fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy, with a strong focus on sustainable marine resource management, tuna processing, conservation, and using digital tools and AI for harvest monitoring. Sports Streaming: DAZN secured LaLiga EA SPORTS broadcast rights across Sub-Saharan Africa for three seasons (2026/27 to 2028/29), starting this weekend, bringing all 380 matches per season to fans in 48 markets including Nigeria. Local Community Event: The Seychelles Extravaganza is set for Saturday, 29 August, at the Hilltop Community Centre in Crest Road (4pm–1am), featuring food, music, games, live entertainment and a free entry community programme with an RSVP request. Tourism Values: Ambassador Alain St.Ange urged the tourism industry to measure success by the real value tourism brings to communities—not just visitor numbers—highlighting local ownership and cultural preservation. Weather Watch: Southern Africa’s 2026/27 rainy season is expected to show a north-south rainfall split under a strong El Niño, with Seychelles forecast among areas likely to see above-normal rainfall. Finance & Regulation: Hong Kong’s SFC added SBCFX and related Star Bridge Capital entities to its unlicensed alert list after a trading collapse that left gold investors out of USDT holdings.

Blue Economy & Fisheries Talks: Seychelles and India held high-level discussions on expanding cooperation in fisheries and the blue economy, including marine aquaculture, tuna fisheries, hatcheries, fish stock assessment, post-harvest technology, conservation, and plans for fisheries data systems and monitoring. Community Event: The free “Seychelles Extravaganza” at Hilltop Community Centre (Crest Road) runs Saturday 29 August from 4pm to 1am, with local food, music, games, live entertainment and a close-up magician, plus a voluntary contribution request. Tourism Value Debate: Ambassador Alain St.Ange urged the tourism industry to measure success by what tourism delivers for communities—not just visitor numbers—highlighting local ownership, cultural preservation and real economic value. Sports Round-Up: Seychelles judo heads to Réunion for the 9th International Open Judo des Mascareignes (29–30 August), while karting round five saw Ally take Senior honours and Peter Fred sweep Legends. Local Agriculture Policy: Seychelles reintroduced animal feed subsidies from 1 August 2026 to boost agricultural security and local production, with 158 qualified livestock farmers under the programme.