AGP Executive Report

Trade & Market Access: China and Seychelles signed an “Early Harvest” arrangement on zero-tariff treatment, with China offering zero tariffs and Seychelles further opening its market to Chinese goods, a move aimed at boosting long-term, predictable trade and investment. Renewables & Energy Cooperation: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) strengthened cooperation on solar PV and renewable energy development, keeping clean power deployment in focus. Sustainable Agriculture: A two-year agroecology project—running from Sept 2024 to Aug 2026—helped farmers adopt lower-pollution, lower-erosion farming practices across Seychelles. Tourism Diplomacy: Dr. Alain St.Ange urged the world to measure tourism beyond arrivals, framing it as a bridge between nations and a tool for peace and human connection. Shipping Security: Seychelles raised concerns over renewed Somali piracy and emerging threats along key shipping routes, underlining risks for maritime trade. Industry & Enterprise Link: China’s ambassador to Seychelles, Lin Nan, met the Minister for Industry and Enterprise to discuss deepening investment cooperation. Local Business & Hospitality: Minor Hotels appointed Jason Marques as GM of Tivoli Avenida Liberdade in Lisbon, reflecting continued regional talent movement in the hospitality sector. Regulatory/Finance (Seychelles angle): FiveComply highlighted its growth across licensing and compliance, including operations in Seychelles, as global regulators tighten expectations.

Seychelles-Shipping Security: Seychelles is “concerned” by renewed Somali piracy and emerging threats along key shipping routes, underlining the pressure on maritime safety and logistics. Renewable Energy Partnership: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) strengthened cooperation on solar PV and renewable energy development, aligning with the country’s push to expand clean power. Agroecology for Farmers: A two-year agroecology project in Seychelles (Sept 2024–Aug 2026) helped farmers adopt more sustainable practices, aiming to cut pollution and soil erosion from agriculture. Aviation Connectivity: IndiGo will launch daily Mumbai–Dar es Salaam flights from 20 November 2026, adding direct East Africa connectivity and noting existing direct links to Nairobi, Mauritius and Seychelles. Tourism & City Experience: A Seychelles tourism piece argues visitors should go beyond Victoria’s clock tower and market to explore more of the capital’s streets, history and culture. Local Industry Diplomacy: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Minister for Industry and Enterprise to discuss deepening China–Seychelles investment cooperation. Food Safety: Taiwan rejected US frozen beef tongue shipments after parasite tests, with the importer placed under stricter batch-by-batch checks.

Seychelles-Canada Travel Update: Moroccan and Seychellois citizens may qualify for Canada’s eTA (instead of a visitor visa) when flying, but only if they’ve held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or have a valid US non-immigrant visa, and they’re travelling for a temporary stay (eTA approval doesn’t guarantee entry). Renewable Farming Push: A two-year agroecology project in Seychelles (Sept 2024–Aug 2026) is credited with boosting sustainable farming skills and cutting agricultural pollution and soil erosion. Maritime Security Watch: Seychelles is concerned about renewed Somali piracy and emerging threats along key shipping routes, underlining risks for regional trade and logistics. Renewables Cooperation: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) reaffirmed plans to deepen cooperation on solar PV and renewable energy development. Industry & Enterprise Links: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Minister for Industry and Enterprise to discuss deeper China–Seychelles investment cooperation. Tourism Experience Angle: A Seychelles tourism piece argues visitors should go beyond Victoria’s main landmarks to experience the city’s streets, history and culture more fully. Transport/Connectivity Context: Russia says it has launched new direct flights including to the Seychelles, as part of its wider international air network expansion.

Maritime Security: Seychelles is raising the alarm over renewed Somali piracy and fresh risks along key shipping routes, a direct concern for regional trade and logistics. Aviation Connectivity: IndiGo will launch daily Mumbai–Dar es Salaam flights from 20 November, adding Tanzania to its Africa network that already includes Nairobi, Mauritius and Seychelles—boosting business, tourism and education links. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting, reporting a July–August rebound and pushing market diversification for 2027 after Middle East disruptions. Renewables Cooperation: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) strengthened ties to accelerate solar PV and renewable energy adoption. Blue Economy & Training: DMI is scaling up training as blue economy investments grow. Industry Policy: Cabinet approved VAT amendments in Seychelles, extending exemptions tied to farming, fishing and construction-related services. Fisheries Compliance: Mauritius approved tougher fisheries electronic reporting rules to curb IUU fishing, including mandatory repairs and restrictions when ERS units fail. Trade & Food Safety: Taiwan rejected U.S. frozen beef tongue shipments after parasite findings, ordering return or destruction and tightening inspections.

Aviation & Trade Links: IndiGo will start daily nonstop flights between Mumbai and Dar es Salaam from November 20, 2026, aiming to boost travel for trade, tourism and business ties across India and East Africa. Maritime Security: Seychelles is watching renewed Somali piracy and other emerging risks along key shipping routes, a reminder that sea lanes remain a core industry concern for the islands. Tourism & Local Experience: A Seychelles tourism piece argues visitors should go beyond landmarks in Victoria and spend more time exploring the capital’s streets, history and culture. Derivatives & Financial Services: Zoomex launched the ZWTC 2026 multi-asset trading championship with a prize pool up to 5 million USDT, expanding competition across crypto perpetuals, stock contracts and AI trading challenges. Renewables Cooperation: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance reaffirmed plans to strengthen solar PV and renewable energy development. Industry Diplomacy: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Minister for Industry and Enterprise to discuss deepening China–Seychelles investment cooperation. Food Safety: Taiwan rejected US frozen beef tongue shipments after parasite detection, with the importer placed under stricter border checks—another signal for food supply chain compliance. VAT & Construction: Seychelles Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending exemptions for certain construction services tied to VAT-exempt imported goods. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board reviewed 2026 performance and set a 2027 shift toward implementation, with market diversification supporting recovery. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training, including ship design and shipbuilding courses, to meet demand from blue economy investment.

Fisheries Compliance: Mauritius has tightened rules for its fisheries electronic reporting system to curb IUU fishing, requiring ERS repairs within 30 days at approved ports and blocking trips until units are fixed and verified—aimed at improving data integrity and vessel compliance. Renewables & Solar: Seychelles reaffirmed cooperation with the International Solar Alliance to boost solar PV adoption, discussing renewable energy priorities and partnership support for the island’s energy transition. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 recovery momentum and outlining a 2027 shift toward implementation, performance measurement and resilience after Middle East disruptions. VAT & Construction: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending an exemption for certain construction services tied to VAT-exempt goods imported in disassembled form. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training, adding ship design and shipbuilding courses to meet demand from growing blue economy investment. Digital Trade for Africa: AfCFTA signed a US$5.17bn digital trade corridor deal with Quest Ghana, with Seychelles set to host the venture headquarters in Victoria and support interoperable payments and a digital commodities exchange. Industry Diplomacy: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Industry and Enterprise minister to deepen investment cooperation, alongside a separate meeting focused on culture and tourism exchange.

Crypto & Markets: Zoomex expanded its Stock Perpetuals on Sept 8, adding 30+ US and global equities across four categories, with trading margined and settled in USDT and running around the clock. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reporting July–August recovery momentum and pushing 2027 as the shift from planning to implementation amid Middle East disruption. Renewables Cooperation: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance strengthened ties to boost solar PV and renewable energy adoption, aligning on national priorities for the energy transition. VAT & Construction: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending exemption to certain construction services tied to assembling and installing VAT-exempt imported goods in disassembled form. Digital Trade for Industry: AfCFTA signed a US$5.17B digital trade corridor deal with Quest Ghana, with Seychelles set to host the venture headquarters in Victoria and support interoperable payments plus a minerals/commodities exchange. Industry-Enterprise Links: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Industry and Enterprise minister to deepen investment cooperation. Food Safety: Taiwan rejected US frozen beef tongue shipments after parasite detection, triggering stricter batch-by-batch inspections for the importer.

Crypto & Markets: Zoomex says it has expanded its Stock Perpetuals on its Seychelles-linked platform, adding 30+ US and global equities across four categories, with trading margined and settled in USDT and running around the clock. Renewables & Energy Diplomacy: Seychelles met the International Solar Alliance to deepen cooperation on solar PV and renewable energy priorities, pushing the island’s transition agenda. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and setting a 2027 shift toward strategy implementation after Middle East disruptions. Trade & Digital Infrastructure: AfCFTA and Quest Ghana signed for a US$5.17B AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with Seychelles set to host the headquarters and support payments, logistics and a commodities exchange. Industry Policy: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending VAT exemption for certain construction services tied to assembling and installing VAT-exempt imported goods. Business & Compliance: FiveComply highlights its growth in international financial services licensing, including operations in Cyprus, Dubai, Mauritius and Seychelles.

Renewables & Energy: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) reaffirmed cooperation to boost solar PV and renewable energy adoption, with talks on renewable priorities during the ISA Africa regional committee meeting. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reporting July–August recovery momentum and pushing market diversification for 2027 after Middle East disruptions. Digital Trade & Payments: AfCFTA Secretariat and Quest Ghana signed an agreement to set up the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with Seychelles set to host the joint venture headquarters in Victoria and support interoperable payment and commodities exchange infrastructure. Industry & Enterprise Diplomacy: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Industry and Enterprise minister to deepen China–Seychelles investment cooperation, while another meeting with the Tourism and Culture minister focused on cultural heritage, archives, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Local Governance & Tax: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending an exemption for certain construction services tied to VAT-exempt goods imported in disassembled form. Maritime Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training, including ship design and shipbuilding courses, to match growing blue economy investment. Food Safety (Regional): Taiwan rejected two US frozen beef tongue shipments after parasite detection, ordering returns or destruction and tightening future inspections.

Renewables & Energy: Seychelles met the International Solar Alliance to push solar PV adoption and deepen renewable energy cooperation, as the country maps priorities for its energy transition. Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting, citing a July–August rebound (with Russia leading) and a 2027 shift from planning to implementation after Middle East disruptions. VAT & Construction: Cabinet approved VAT amendments to extend an exemption for construction services tied to assembling and installing VAT-exempt imported goods in disassembled form. Digital Trade & Payments: AfCFTA and Quest Ghana signed a deal for a US$5.17bn AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with Seychelles set to host the joint venture headquarters in Victoria. Maritime & Security: A Kenya Navy operation seized over a metric ton of methamphetamine from an unregistered vessel, highlighting growing illicit trade risks along Indian Ocean shipping lanes. Industry Finance/Trade: Seychelles’ Cabinet also backed VAT changes while broader regional deals point to faster cross-border commerce via digital infrastructure.

Renewables & Energy: Seychelles says it will deepen cooperation with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to boost solar PV adoption, following talks between the Environment, Climate, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Marie-May Jeremie and ISA DG Ashish Khanna on the sidelines of the ISA Regional Committee for Africa meeting. Tax & Construction: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending an exemption for construction services tied directly to assembling and installing VAT-exempt goods imported in disassembled form. Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and pushing market diversification to strengthen resilience after Middle East disruptions, with July-August showing momentum and Russia leading the rebound. Digital Trade & Payments: AfCFTA and Ghana’s Quest Ghana signed a deal to create a US$5.17bn AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with Seychelles set to host the headquarters in Victoria and support interoperable payments and a commodities exchange. Diplomacy & Culture: China’s ambassador to Seychelles Lin Nan met Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cooperation on heritage protection, archives, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Aviation Safety: Ukraine urged ICAO to discourage airlines from using Russian airspace, and route data shows Russia still has scheduled nonstop links with Seychelles.

Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance after Middle East disruptions and mapping a more resilient 2027 push through stronger market diversification and intelligence; VAT & Construction: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending an exemption for construction services tied to assembling and installing VAT-exempt imported goods in disassembled form; Digital Trade for Africa: AfCFTA Secretariat and Ghana’s Quest Ghana signed a deal for a US$5.17B AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with Seychelles hosting the joint venture headquarters in Victoria and supporting interoperable payments plus a digital minerals/commodities exchange; Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training, including ship design and shipbuilding courses, to match rising blue economy investment; Aviation Safety Warning: Ukraine urged airlines to avoid Russian airspace after drone activity, while Russia said it can protect civilian flights—nonstop routes still link Russia with Seychelles and Tanzania; Cooling vs Climate: New research highlights air conditioning’s life-saving role but warns of rising climate impact as cooling electricity demand grows.

Seychelles Tourism: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and pushing a more resilient 2027 plan after Middle East disruptions. Visitor momentum picked up in July and August, with Russia leading the rebound, while China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey showed positive growth. VAT & Construction: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending a VAT exemption for certain construction services tied to assembling and installing VAT-exempt imported goods in disassembled form. Digital Trade & Payments: The AfCFTA Secretariat signed with Ghana’s Quest Ghana to set up the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, hosted in Victoria, to cut the cost and friction of intra-African trade using a digital marketplace, interoperable payments and a minerals/commodities exchange. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training, including ship design and shipbuilding courses, to match growing blue economy investment. Energy Transition Push: Nigeria stakeholders called for a multi-stakeholder decarbonisation hub to speed up a low-carbon, resilient economy.

Seychelles Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and setting a 2027 shift from strategy-building to implementation after Middle East disruptions; visitor momentum picked up in July and August, with Russia leading the rebound and emerging markets like China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey showing growth. VAT & Construction Policy: Cabinet approved VAT amendments extending an exemption for construction services tied directly to assembling and installing VAT-exempt goods imported in disassembled form. AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor: AfCFTA Secretariat and Quest Ghana signed a US$5.17B digital trade corridor deal to cut cross-border transaction costs, with Seychelles set to host the joint venture headquarters in Victoria and provide sovereign support. Aviation Safety Warning: Ukraine urged ICAO to discourage airlines from using Russian airspace, while scheduled nonstop routes still link Russia with Seychelles and other African states. Cooling, Health & Climate: New research highlights air conditioning’s life-saving role but warns of rising climate impact as global cooling demand surges. China–Seychelles Tourism Links: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to deepen cooperation across cultural heritage, archives, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training.

VAT & Agriculture Support: Cabinet approved VAT amendments to extend exemptions for certain farming, fishing and related construction services tied to VAT-exempt imported goods. Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, flagging recovery momentum after a tough first half and outlining a 2027 shift from planning to implementation, with Russia leading the rebound and growth also seen in China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Digital Trade for Seychelles: AfCFTA and Quest Ghana signed a deal for a US$5.17B AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, with Seychelles set to host the joint venture headquarters in Victoria and build payment and commodities exchange infrastructure to cut cross-border trade costs. Blue Economy Skills: Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training, adding ship design and shipbuilding courses as blue economy investment grows. Cooling vs Climate Cost: New research highlights that air conditioning saves lives but also drives emissions as global cooling demand surges. Aviation Safety Warning: Ukraine urged airlines to avoid Russian airspace after drone activity, while Russia rejected the claim; FlightConnections lists nonstop Russia–Seychelles routes. Tourism Culture Links: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to deepen cooperation on heritage protection, archives, fashion exchange and tourism promotion. Industry & Finance Signals: Global bond yields are rising sharply, adding pressure to governments and markets worldwide.

Seychelles Tourism Recovery: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance and mapping a 2027 shift from strategy-setting to execution, after a tough first half hit by Middle East disruptions; visitor arrivals picked up in July and August, with Russia leading the rebound and growth also coming from China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Digital Trade for Seychelles: The AfCFTA Secretariat and Ghana’s Quest Ghana signed an agreement to set up the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor, hosted in Victoria, with sovereign support from Seychelles; the plan includes a digital marketplace, interoperable payments and an African minerals/commodities exchange, starting with a pilot across 5–8 countries. Tourism & Culture Diplomacy: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles’ Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to deepen cooperation on cultural heritage protection, archives management, fashion exchanges, tourism promotion and skills training. Maritime & Fisheries Cooperation: A Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visited India’s CMFRI in Kochi to discuss sustainable fisheries management and mariculture, including stock assessment, seaweed processing, ornamental fish breeding and marine bioprospecting. Aviation Risk Watch: Ukraine urged airlines to avoid Russian airspace, and route data shows Russia still has nonstop links with Seychelles and Tanzania—an important reminder for travel and logistics planning. Blue Economy Skills Push (Region): Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute is scaling up training, adding ship design and shipbuilding courses as blue economy investment grows. Energy Cost Pressure (Region): Diesel prices vary sharply across Africa, with Seychelles listed among the higher-cost markets—fuel costs that can ripple into freight, construction and food prices.