AGP Executive Report

Tourism & Aviation: Seychelles’ connectivity gets a boost as Aeroflot confirms regular summer flights to the islands from July 8, using wide-body A350s in Economy, Comfort and Business. UN Tourism & Governance: Seychelles backs the new UN Tourism Management Vision 2026–2029, with priorities including stronger institutions, collaboration, workforce development and sustainability. Ocean Conservation Funding: Leaders at the Our Ocean conference in Kenya are urged to close a widening ocean conservation funding shortfall, with science and partnerships highlighted as key to protecting more of the sea by 2030. Environment & Wildlife: Curieuse Island’s Aldabra giant tortoises are spotlighted as a conservation success story, showing how translocation can reduce extinction risks and reshape habitats. Trade & Regional Industry: The EU and ESA states including Seychelles conclude negotiations on an enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement, aiming for more predictable rules and support for services and digitalisation. Hospitality & Development: La Réserve Private Homes Seychelles announces six exclusive villas set to open in fall 2026, positioning the project around nature-first, low-tech luxury. Finance & Platforms (Seychelles-linked releases): Bitget expands US stock access with free Level 2 data and launches Universal Cup and other trading promotions, while MEXC reports May trading highlights and a new “Kickoff Fest” rewards drive.

Tourism Policy: Seychelles endorsed UN Tourism’s Management Vision 2026–2029 at the 126th Executive Council in Toledo, Spain, backing stronger institutions, collaboration, capacity building and sustainability, with priorities including connectivity, workforce development and resilience for island destinations. Trade & Industry: Namibia launched its AIDA–AfCFTA Country Impact Assessment Report, with Seychelles named among the pilot countries, aiming to map readiness and unlock export potential through mining, fisheries, agro-processing and logistics. Environment & Conservation: Curieuse Island’s Aldabra giant tortoise translocation programme is highlighted as a living conservation success story—helping build a secure, free-roaming population and reducing extinction risks from disease and climate threats. Aviation & Connectivity: Aeroflot says it will keep regular flights to Seychelles in the summer season from July 8, using wide-body Airbus A350 aircraft, with twice-weekly Moscow–Seychelles services. Finance & Digital Services: Bitget, headquartered in Seychelles, rolled out Universal Cup (USDT 250,000 prize pool) and launched free Level 2 US stock market data for eligible users, alongside Zero-Fee Mode for Bitget CFD. Governance: Seychelles’ National Assembly will end Wednesday sittings earlier to support national energy conservation measures.

AfCFTA Industrial Push (Seychelles link): Namibia launched its AIDA–AfCFTA Country Impact Assessment Report, with Seychelles named as one of five pilot countries, highlighting export potential and opportunities in mining, fisheries and agro-processing. Ocean-to-climate Agenda: Global leaders issued a letter ahead of COP31 urging the ocean be placed at the heart of climate action, with Seychelles among the governments backing the call. Seychelles Tourism & Air Access: Aeroflot will continue regular flights to Seychelles in the summer season from July 8, using A350 wide-body aircraft with Economy, Comfort and Business classes. Local Conservation Story: Curieuse Island’s Aldabra giant tortoise translocation programme is spotlighted as a conservation success, supporting a free-roaming population and reducing extinction risks. Parliament Energy Saving Move: Seychelles National Assembly will aim to end Wednesday sittings earlier to align with energy conservation measures. Regional Finance Leadership: Afreximbank appointed Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles among 13 countries.

EU-Africa Trade: The EU and four Eastern and Southern Africa states—including Seychelles—have concluded negotiations on an enhanced Economic Partnership Agreement, aiming for clearer rules, more services and digitalisation opportunities, and deeper regional integration. Aviation & Connectivity: Aeroflot says it will keep regular flights to Seychelles in the summer season, starting July 8 with A350 wide-body service twice weekly between Moscow and Mahé. Ocean Climate Push: Global leaders have issued an open letter urging COP31 hosts Türkiye and Australia to put the ocean at the heart of climate action, calling for a “Blue COP” focused on ocean-climate solutions. Tourism & Travel Disruption: Northern Ireland travel agencies closed early after unrest following a stabbing, with transport suspended and businesses prioritising staff safety. Maritime & Finance: Afreximbank appointed Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles and other regional markets. Energy & Industry: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz tensions could sharply raise fuel import bills for vulnerable economies, with small island states among those most exposed. Crypto & Payments (Seychelles-based firms): Bitget launched Anti-Scam Month 2026 and new CFD “Zero-Fee Mode,” while MEXC integrated with TradingView to let users trade directly from charts.

Crypto & Tokenised Finance: BitMart says its SpaceX-linked IPOPrime tokenised fund interest (bSPCX) has pulled in 37,000+ participants and $5.5m USDT in commitments, with the June 11 UTC deadline looming. CFD Access: Bitget rolled out “Zero-Fee Mode” for Bitget CFD, aiming to simplify commissions as daily CFD volume nears $10bn. Stocks Expansion: Bitget also added 30 new stock spot assets under its “Stock 2.0” push, widening exposure across themes from space and tech to healthcare and defence. Multi-Asset Security: Bitget’s Anti-Scam Month 2026 continues, citing 150m malicious attack requests blocked and $32.3m recovered for users in 2025. Seychelles Industry Link: Aeroflot confirmed it will keep regular flights to Seychelles in the summer season from July 8, using A350 wide-bodies. Blue Economy Climate Push: A global open letter urges COP31 hosts Türkiye and Australia to put the ocean at the heart of climate action, with Seychelles among the governments backing it. Skills for Resilience: Seychelles youths completed gabion construction training to support watershed restoration and erosion control. Trade Finance: Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged $1bn to support trade finance across Africa, backing letters of credit and guarantees to strengthen intra-African value chains. Aviation Standards: Seychelles joined a regional ICAO awareness workshop on Aircraft/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR) to help harmonise runway and apron assessments.

Maritime Tourism & Blue Economy: Seychelles-linked readers get a fresh look at how ocean-led growth is being pushed abroad, with Nigeria’s marine industry leaders calling for investment in boating safety, modern marine infrastructure and navigation tech to turn the country into Africa’s next aqua-tourism hub. Renewable Energy: A new explainer on Sri Lanka’s ocean power focuses on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), using warm surface and cold deep seawater to generate steady electricity in tropical regions. Aviation & Connectivity: Aeroflot says it will keep regular flights to Seychelles through the summer season from July 8, using Airbus A350 wide-bodies with Economy, Comfort and Business classes. Trade & Finance: Mauritius Commercial Bank pledges $1 billion to boost trade finance across Africa, aiming to strengthen intra-African value chains under AfCFTA. Infrastructure Skills: Youths in Seychelles complete a gabion construction training to support watershed restoration, erosion control and climate resilience. Blue Economy Governance: Seychelles’ agriculture and blue economy minister meets Japan’s parliamentary vice-minister ONISHI during a Japan visit, signalling continued cooperation on fisheries and maritime priorities. Energy Shock Watch: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz disruptions could hit oil-import-dependent economies, including SIDS, with major fuel bill increases. Digital Industry (Seychelles-based): MEXC, headquartered in Victoria, integrates with TradingView to let users execute trades directly from charts, while Bitget expands anti-scam efforts and reports $32.3m recovered for users.

Digital Security & Fraud Prevention: Bitget launched Anti-Scam Month 2026 in Seychelles, saying it blocked 150m malicious attack requests in 2025 and helped recover about $32.3m for users, as multi-asset trading expands. Crypto Trading Infrastructure: MEXC, also based in Victoria, integrated with TradingView so users can place perpetual futures trades directly from charts, while also touting 0-fee spot trading and new contract listings. Trade Finance for Growth: Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged $1bn to support trade finance across Africa, including letters of credit and guarantees, aiming to strengthen intra-African value chains. Aviation & Connectivity: Aeroflot will keep regular flights to Seychelles in summer from July 8 using A350 aircraft, and a regional ICAO workshop in Seychelles focused on runway pavement standards (ACR/PCR) to support safer, smoother air links. Blue Economy & Skills: Youths completed gabion construction training in watershed restoration and erosion control, backed by local committees and partners. Ocean & Fisheries Watch: Reports highlight how industrial fishing is reaching deeper ocean “dark web” ecosystems, while tuna recovery shows conservation can work when quotas and enforcement improve.

Judiciary & Governance: Lawyers in Zimbabwe are criticising President Emmerson Mnangagwa after he presented retired Chief Justice Luke Malaba with an agricultural mechanisation package, arguing the gift undermines confidence in judicial independence. Aviation & Connectivity: Aeroflot says it will keep regular flights to Seychelles through the summer, starting July 8 with A350 wide-body aircraft and twice-weekly Moscow–Seychelles services. Cruise & Tourism Trade: AROYA Cruises has partnered with Lufthansa City Center International to expand its international distribution, while Caribbean Week in New York wrapped up with new tourism initiatives and regional partnerships. Maritime & Fisheries: Scientists warn industrial fishing is reaching the ocean’s “dark web” in the twilight zone, and tuna recovery shows how quotas and enforcement can work—though rebuilding is still uneven. Energy & Shipping Costs: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz tensions could add over US$20bn a year to oil import bills for vulnerable economies, with small island states hit hardest. Local Skills & Resilience: Youths completed a gabion construction training programme to boost watershed restoration and erosion control capacity in Seychelles. Finance & Trade: Mauritius Commercial Bank pledged US$1bn for trade finance across Africa, supporting letters of credit and guarantees to strengthen regional value chains. Digital Industry (Seychelles-based): MEXC integrated with TradingView to let users trade directly from charts, while Bitget launched Anti-Scam Month and tokenized-stock upgrades.

Judiciary & Agriculture: Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing backlash from lawyers after gifting retired Chief Justice Luke Malaba an agricultural mechanisation package (tractor, truck, boom sprayer and planter), with critics saying it undermines confidence in judicial independence. Aviation & Tourism Connectivity: Aeroflot will keep regular flights to Seychelles through the summer, starting July 8 with Airbus A350 wide-body service twice weekly between Moscow and Seychelles. Cruise Distribution: AROYA Cruises has signed a strategic partnership with Lufthansa City Center International to expand its international travel trade reach for Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries. Regional Trade Finance: Afreximbank appointed Peter Adeshola Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles and other key markets. Digital Finance & Local Industry: Seychelles-based MEXC integrated with TradingView, letting users execute crypto trades directly from charts, while Bitget launched Anti-Scam Month 2026 and Fusion Markets rolled out 24/7 payment processing. Blue Economy & Skills: A gabion construction training programme in Seychelles built youth capacity for watershed restoration and erosion control, supporting climate resilience efforts.

Fisheries Recovery: Tuna stocks are showing signs of rebound, with recovery driven by quotas, enforcement, stock assessments and tougher catch documentation—though some regions like Indian Ocean yellowfin remain weak. Agriculture & Trade: Afreximbank has appointed Peter Adeshola Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles and 12 other countries, as it pushes trade and project financing across the region. Energy Risk for Islands: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz tensions could lift oil prices sharply, adding over US$20bn a year to fuel import bills for vulnerable economies—an issue that hits small island states hard. Local Skills for Resilience: Youths in Seychelles completed a five-day gabion construction training to support watershed restoration, erosion control and climate resilience. Aviation & Infrastructure: A regional ICAO awareness workshop in Eswatini focused on new Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating standards, with Seychelles among participating countries. Crypto & Payments (Seychelles-linked): MEXC (Victoria) integrated with TradingView to let users trade from charts, while Fusion Markets extended payment processing to 24/7 with withdrawals under an hour. Tourism Pressure: Major destinations are adding caps and booking systems as visitor numbers surge, reflecting growing crowd-management pressure on fragile sites.

Seychelles–Agriculture & Blue Economy Diplomacy: Japan’s Parliamentary Vice-Minister ONISHI met Seychelles’ Principal Minister Cosgrow during a visit focused on agriculture, fisheries and the blue economy, underscoring ongoing bilateral cooperation. Infrastructure & Skills for Resilience: Youths completed a five-day gabion construction training to boost watershed restoration, erosion control and climate resilience, supported by local agencies and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. Aviation Standards for Trade: A regional ICAO awareness workshop on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR) brought Seychelles and other African states together to align runway and apron assessment standards—key for safer, more efficient connectivity. Energy Shock Watch: UNCTAD warns that Strait of Hormuz tensions could push oil prices higher and add over US$20bn to vulnerable economies’ annual fuel import bills, with small island states and least developed countries hit hardest. Regional Finance Leadership: Afreximbank appointed Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles among 13 countries, aiming to expand trade and project financing. Cybersecurity Alert: Dutch authorities disrupted a major botnet operation that hijacked over 17 million devices worldwide—an important reminder for digital security across the region.

Seychelles Tourism & Hospitality: The St Enodoc hotel relaunch is set to bring two new dining concepts—The Estuary Grill for Cornish land-and-sea produce with fire-grilled specials and Seychellois-inspired flavours, plus The Flour Garden, a seasonal walk-in outdoor spot for Neapolitan-style pizzas, salads and homemade soft-serve. Regional Trade Finance: Afreximbank has appointed Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering 13 countries including Seychelles, with a background in financing major projects across oil, fertiliser and infrastructure. Digital Finance & Crypto (Seychelles-based firms): MEXC has integrated with TradingView so users can execute perpetual futures trades directly from charts, while Bitget launched Anti-Scam Month 2026 and a “Score Your 40%” affiliate drive. Energy & Shipping Risk: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz disruptions could add about US$20.4bn annually to oil import bills for vulnerable economies, including many small island states. Skills for Resilience: Youths completed a gabion construction training programme in watershed restoration and erosion control, supporting climate resilience efforts in Seychelles. Aviation & Infrastructure: ICAO’s regional workshop in Seychelles focused on new aircraft and pavement classification standards to strengthen harmonised air infrastructure across Africa.

Hotel & Hospitality Relaunch: Paul and Emma Ainsworth are expanding the St Enodoc relaunch with two new concepts—The Estuary Grill (Cornish land-and-sea produce, fire-grilled dishes, and flavours tied to Paul’s Seychellois heritage) and The Flour Garden (seasonal walk-in Neapolitan pizzas, salads, and soft-serve). Tourism Policy & Security: Sweden is pushing the EU to tighten Russian tourist visa rules, arguing leisure travel should not continue while the war in Ukraine drags on—sparking debate over security, rights, and tourism’s role in dialogue. Trade & Finance: Afreximbank appointed Peter Adeshola Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles and 12 other countries. Digital Finance & Payments: Fusion Markets moved payment processing to 24/7, cutting median withdrawal processing time to under an hour. Local Skills & Resilience: Youths completed a five-day gabion construction training to boost watershed restoration, erosion control, and climate resilience. Aviation & Infrastructure: ICAO hosted a regional workshop in Seychelles on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating standards to strengthen harmonised runway assessments across 12 African countries. Energy Shock Watch: UNCTAD warned Strait of Hormuz disruptions could add over US$20bn annually to oil import bills for vulnerable economies, including many SIDS. Seychelles Tourism Education: Seychelles Tourism Academy hosted a Russian language cultural event in Victoria, with student performances and certificates for about 100 attendees.

Hotel & Hospitality Relaunch: Paul and Emma Ainsworth are detailing the relaunch of St Enodoc hotel, adding two new restaurant concepts—The Estuary Grill for Cornish land-and-sea produce and The Flour Garden for seasonal, walk-in pizzas and salads—plus a daily St Enodoc Bar with local and international beer and cocktails. Tourism Policy: Sweden is pushing the EU to tighten tourist visa rules for Russian citizens, arguing leisure travel should not continue while the war in Ukraine drags on. Trade Finance Boost: Mauritius Commercial Bank commits US$1 billion to expand trade finance across Africa, including letters of credit and guarantees, aiming to strengthen regional value chains under AfCFTA. Regional Development Skills: Youths in Seychelles complete a five-day gabion construction training to support watershed restoration, erosion control and climate resilience. Aviation Infrastructure: ICAO-backed workshop in Seychelles and the region focuses on new aircraft and pavement classification standards (ACR/PCR) to keep runways and aprons fit for growing air traffic. Energy Shock Watch: UNCTAD warns Strait of Hormuz tensions could push oil prices higher and add over US$20 billion to vulnerable economies’ annual fuel import bills. Local Industry Tech: MEXC, based in Victoria, Seychelles, integrates with TradingView so users can execute spot and perpetual trades directly from charting tools.

Hotel & Hospitality Relaunch: Paul and Emma Ainsworth are rolling out two new restaurant concepts at the St Enodoc hotel in Cornwall, with menus built around Cornish land-and-sea produce and dishes inspired by Paul’s Seychellois heritage, plus a new daily St Enodoc Bar. Trade & Finance: Afreximbank appointed Peter Adeshola Olowononi as director of regional operations for Southern Africa, covering Seychelles and 12 other countries, as the bank continues project and trade-finance support. Digital Payments: Fusion Markets extended payment processing to 24/7, cutting median withdrawal processing time to under an hour. Skills for Resilience: Youths in Seychelles completed a five-day gabion construction training to boost watershed restoration, erosion control and climate resilience. Crypto Exchange Moves (Seychelles-based): MEXC integrated with TradingView to let users execute trades directly from charts, while Bitget launched Anti-Scam Month 2026 and a “Score Your 40%” affiliate campaign. Energy Shock Watch: UNCTAD warned Strait of Hormuz disruptions could add about US$20.4bn a year to oil import bills for vulnerable economies, including many SIDS. Aviation Standards: Seychelles joined a regional ICAO workshop on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR) to strengthen harmonised runway and apron standards across Africa.

Skills for resilience: Young Seychellois trainees completed a five-day gabion construction course to boost watershed restoration, erosion control and climate resilience, backed by the Baie Lazare Watershed Committee, GAEA Seychelles and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. Local governance & environment: The training also ties into Seychelles’ Golden Jubilee activities, with support from the Department of Agriculture and the Risk and Disaster Management Division. Aviation & trade readiness: A regional ICAO workshop on Aircraft Classification Rating/Pavement Classification Rating (ACR/PCR) brought together Seychelles and other African states to align runway and apron standards for safer, more efficient air connectivity. Energy shock watch: UNCTAD warned that rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz could add about US$20.4bn to annual oil import bills for vulnerable economies, including many SIDS—an issue that matters for Seychelles’ import-dependent costs. Industry & skills spotlight: Seychelles Tourism Academy marked the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture with Russian-language performances, highlighting demand for language skills in the service sector. Global business signals: Seychelles’ presence also shows up in international defence and trade discussions, including meetings tied to agriculture and blue economy cooperation.