AGP Executive Report

Seychelles Telecoms: Starlink has officially entered Seychelles’ broadband market after a soft launch at State House, with the service becoming operational on July 18 and authorised under the SCRA framework—aimed at boosting reliable internet for remote areas, tourism, maritime businesses, schools and enterprises. Aviation Connectivity: Ethiopian Airlines will add double-daily flights from Addis Ababa to Mahé from December 1, 2026, lifting weekly capacity by more than 1,000 seats and strengthening Seychelles’ global links via Star Alliance. Finance & Regulation: VCG Markets says it has secured a Seychelles licence from the Seychelles Finance Services Authority as it pushes growth across emerging markets. Sustainable Industry: The SEA Index CO₂ certification has expanded beyond superyachts to cover more recreational vessels, including smaller boats and catamarans—relevant to Seychelles’ yachting and marine services sector. Crypto Market Impact: BitMEX, owned by Seychelles-based HDR Global Trading, will shut down on September 23, while a class action alleges customer Bitcoin was seized during liquidations. Local Business/Agri Trade: REA COOP’s citrus juice push is expanding internationally, including sales into Seychelles, despite shipping-route disruptions.

Seychelles Telecom Upgrade: Starlink has officially entered Seychelles’ broadband market after a soft launch at State House, with the Seychelles Communications Regulatory Authority confirming it’s authorised under local rules—aimed at improving connectivity for remote islands, tourism operators, maritime businesses, schools and enterprises. Aviation Connectivity: Ethiopian Airlines will add double-daily flights between Addis Ababa and Mahé from 1 December 2026, boosting seats and strengthening Seychelles’ global links via Star Alliance. Blue Economy & Climate Resilience: A Coral Restoration Project backed by the Adaptation Fund and UNDP is rebuilding damaged reefs across Mauritius, Seychelles and Rodrigues, with coastal communities at the centre to protect shorelines, fisheries and tourism. Seychelles Finance & Crypto Regulation: VCG Markets says it has secured a Seychelles licence from the Seychelles Finance Services Authority as it targets growth in emerging markets, as Seychelles tightens capital and compliance standards. Yachting Emissions Standards: SEA Index® expands CO₂ certification to smaller recreational boats and catamarans (with new models developed with Lloyd’s Register), widening environmental benchmarking for the sector. Tourism Promotion: Discover Airlines brings back a Frankfurt pop-up ice cream parlour (30 July–2 August) featuring destination-inspired flavours including Seychelles, plus flight prize draws. Industry Finance Watch: Bitget touts improved execution for tokenized equity rTokens in a CryptoRank study and adds AEON to Launchpool and spot trading. Maritime Security: Russia urges stronger security efforts in the Gulf of Aden and Mozambique Channel amid piracy and terrorist-linked activity.

Telecom Competition: Starlink has officially entered Seychelles’ broadband market after a soft launch at State House, with the Seychelles Communications Regulatory Authority saying it will operate under local rules and help boost connectivity for remote islands, tourism, maritime users, schools and businesses. Aviation Connectivity: Ethiopian Airlines will add double-daily flights between Addis Ababa and Mahé from 1 December 2026, strengthening Seychelles’ links via the Star Alliance hub network. Blue Economy & Fisheries: The WTO Fish Fund approved about $2.2m in grants for 17 developing and least-developed members to implement the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, including better reporting, data collection and regulatory frameworks. Ocean Recovery: A Coral Restoration Project across Mauritius, Seychelles and Rodrigues is rebuilding damaged reefs with Adaptation Fund support and UNDP implementation, putting coastal communities at the centre as bleaching and storms continue to hit the region. Sustainable Agriculture: Curieuse Island hosted the Erasmus GreenTraINT Summer School, highlighting international training in sustainable agroforestry and conservation. Energy Reliability: Seychelles’ digital push comes as regional power challenges persist, with rotating load-shedding plans reported elsewhere in the Indian Ocean region. Yachting Emissions: SEA Index® expanded CO₂ certification to smaller recreational boats and catamarans, using new benchmark models developed with Lloyd’s Register. Crypto Industry Watch: BitMEX’s Seychelles-based owner says the exchange will shut down on 23 September 2026, ending an 11-year run after a strategic review.

Connectivity Boost: Starlink has gone live in Seychelles, with the satellite broadband service operational from July 18 after an ISP licence in February, aiming to improve reliability for remote islands, tourism operators, maritime businesses, and schools under SCRA’s regulatory oversight. Aviation Links: Ethiopian Airlines will add double-daily flights between Addis Ababa and Mahé from December 1, 2026, expanding seats and Star Alliance connections for tourism and trade. Maritime Green Credentials: The SEA Index® CO₂ certification has expanded beyond superyachts to cover smaller recreational boats from 10 metres, production vessels and catamarans up to 35 metres, with new benchmark models developed with Lloyd’s Register. Tourism Demand Signals: Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List highlights rising island travel searches (up 55% year-on-year), with Seychelles featured among top picks for 2026. Crypto Industry Shock: BitMEX, owned by Seychelles-based HDR Global Trading Limited, will shut down permanently on September 23, 2026, ending an 11-year run after a strategic review. Trade & Fisheries Support: The WTO Fish Fund approved $2.2m in grants to help developing members implement the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, including needs assessments, reporting upgrades and stronger regulation.

Telecom Shake-up in Seychelles: Starlink has gone live after a soft launch at State House, with the Seychelles Communications Regulatory Authority saying it’s authorised under local rules—aimed at boosting reliable broadband for remote islands, tourism operators, schools and businesses. Aviation Connectivity: Ethiopian Airlines will add double-daily flights from Addis Ababa to Mahé from 1 December 2026, adding 1,000+ weekly seats and strengthening Star Alliance links. Marine Sustainability: The SEA Index® expanded its CO₂ certification to more recreational yachts and production catamarans (up to 35m), with Lloyd’s Register support and Seychelles included in the network. Crypto Industry Watch: BitMEX—Seychelles-registered HDR Global Trading’s exchange—will shut down on 23 September 2026, ending an 11-year run after regulatory and market pressures. Mobile Money IPO Plan: Airtel Africa picked the London Stock Exchange for its planned Airtel Money IPO in the second half of 2026. Tourism Demand Signals: Expedia’s 2026 island lists highlight Seychelles as a standout destination, reflecting continued high interest in island travel.

Telecom Competition: Starlink has officially entered Seychelles’ broadband market after a soft launch at State House, with the Seychelles Communications Regulatory Authority saying it will operate under local rules and help boost connectivity for remote islands, tourism operators, schools and businesses. Aviation Connectivity: Ethiopian Airlines is set to launch double-daily flights between Addis Ababa and Mahé from 1 December 2026, adding over 1,000 weekly seats and strengthening Seychelles’ links via the Star Alliance network. Maritime Green Credentials: The SEA Index® has expanded its CO₂ certification beyond superyachts to include smaller recreational boats from 10 metres, production vessels and catamarans up to 35 metres, with Yacht Club de Monaco and Lloyd’s Register aiming for broader, comparable environmental assessments. Crypto & Local Business: BitMEX—owned by Seychelles-based HDR Global Trading—will shut down permanently on 23 September 2026, ending an 11-year run after a strategic review; users must close positions and withdraw funds. Tourism Demand Signals: Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List highlights surging interest in island getaways, with Seychelles featured among destinations catching attention for the rest of 2026.

Crypto & Finance Shock: BitMEX, the Seychelles-based owner’s crypto derivatives exchange, will shut down permanently on 23 September 2026, with new accounts stopped and users told to close positions and withdraw funds within 61 days. Connectivity Boost for Seychelles: Ethiopian Airlines launches double-daily Addis Ababa–Mahé flights from 1 December 2026, adding 1,000+ weekly seats via Star Alliance links. Telecom Disruption: Starlink has officially opened in Seychelles under SCRA’s regulatory framework, aiming to improve broadband reliability for remote islands, tourism, maritime, schools and businesses. Green Yachting Standards: SEA Index® expands CO₂ certification to smaller recreational boats (from 10m), production vessels and catamarans up to 35m, with Lloyd’s Register-backed benchmarks. Mobile Money IPO Watch: Airtel Africa selects the London Stock Exchange for a planned 2026 IPO of Airtel Money. Blue Economy & Agriculture: Berau and Seychelles explore candlenut plantations on post-mining lands to rehabilitate degraded sites and support long-term local income. Fisheries Governance: WTO Fish Fund approves $2.2m in grants to help countries implement the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.

Telecom Upgrade: Starlink has officially entered Seychelles, with the soft launch at State House and SCRA confirming it’s authorised under local rules—aiming to boost reliable broadband for remote islands, tourism operators, maritime businesses, schools and enterprises. Digital Finance Watch: Seychelles-regulated forex brokers are in focus as digital finance grows, while globally Bitget has registered as a Financial Services Provider in New Zealand—another sign of crypto platforms building compliance frameworks. Yachting Sustainability: The SEA Index® (Yacht Club de Monaco) expanded CO₂ certification beyond superyachts to smaller recreational boats and production catamarans up to 35m, with Lloyd’s Register support—relevant for Seychelles’ marina network and yacht buyers. Trade & Fisheries Support: The WTO Fish Fund approved $2.2m in grants to help countries implement fisheries subsidies rules, including needs assessments, reporting and regulatory strengthening. Energy Reliability: Seychelles’ connectivity and business continuity also sits alongside wider regional power-stress stories, as rotating load-shedding plans continue to appear across the region.

Satellite Connectivity: Starlink has officially entered Seychelles after a soft launch at State House, with the Seychelles Communications Regulatory Authority confirming it’s authorised under local rules—aimed at boosting reliable broadband for remote islands, tourism, maritime users, schools and businesses. Telecom Finance: Airtel Africa has selected the London Stock Exchange for its planned 2026 IPO of Airtel Money, targeting the second half of the year as it seeks an international investor base for its mobile money fintech platform. Yachting Emissions: The Yacht Club de Monaco’s SEA Index expanded CO₂ certification to recreational boats from 10 metres, production vessels and catamarans, including Seychelles in its SEA Index network. Fisheries Subsidies Support: The WTO Fish Fund approved $2.2m in grants to help countries implement the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, with more than 40 members now benefiting. Maritime Security: East Africa’s coast faces a growing threat from unregistered small vessels used in smuggling operations, with regional coordination involving Seychelles-linked centres. Trade & Industry Leadership: PACCI elected Tanzania’s Vincent Minja as East Africa VP, with Seychelles included among the represented countries.

Satellite Connectivity: Starlink has officially entered Seychelles’ telecom market, with a soft launch at State House confirming it is authorised under the SCRA framework—aimed at boosting reliable broadband for households, businesses, students and remote islands. Maritime Sustainability: The Yacht Club de Monaco’s SEA Index expanded its CO₂ certification beyond superyachts to cover recreational boats from 10 metres, production vessels and catamarans, with Seychelles and the wider SEA Index network now included. Digital Trading Buzz: Seychelles-linked fintech news continues to draw attention as Zoomex rolls out Contract Grid for range-bound crypto markets, while Bitget reports New Zealand registration as a financial services provider and pushes further TradFi-style products. Blue Economy & Agriculture: Berau and Seychelles are exploring candlenut cultivation on post-mining lands, using the crop to rehabilitate degraded sites while creating long-term income. Regional Trade Leadership: PACCI has elected Tanzania’s Vincent Minja as Vice President for the East African region, with Seychelles named among the represented countries. Industry & Finance Angle: A new look at Seychelles’ fintech highlights how digital finance can help connect a dispersed island economy and reduce tourism-linked vulnerabilities.

Digital Connectivity: Starlink has become operational in Seychelles, after the government granted an ISP licence in February—raising the stakes for faster, more reliable internet across the archipelago’s 115 islands, especially for remote communities, tourism operators, maritime businesses, schools and enterprises. Power Reliability: Cyprus has rolled out rotating load-shedding in pre-set geographic groups as demand outstripped supply—an example of how grid planning and public communication can make or break daily business continuity. Crypto & Trading Services: Seychelles-based Zoomex is promoting contract grid trading for sideways markets, while Bitget continues expanding TradFi-linked crypto products and API tooling—signals of how global finance services are marketing automation and market access to island-based audiences. Blue Economy & Agriculture: Seychelles and Indonesia’s Berau are exploring candlenut cultivation on post-mining lands, aiming to restore degraded areas while creating long-term income and biodiesel potential. Maritime Security: A report highlights high-seas smuggling risks along East Africa’s coast, with Seychelles-linked coordination mentioned in major drug interdictions. Tourism Demand: Seychelles is also showing up in luxury travel roundups for 2026, reinforcing the island’s brand pull beyond traditional mass-market travel.

Digital Connectivity: Starlink has become operational in Seychelles, with Vice President Sebastien Pillay saying the company’s ISP licence (granted in February) now lets it offer broadband across the archipelago’s 115 islands—aiming to improve reliability for remote islands, tourism, maritime operations, schools and businesses. Energy Reliability: Cyprus activated rotating load-shedding with pre-set geographic groups and 30-minute cuts as demand outstripped generation capacity, with authorities publishing the full list of affected areas by group. Trading & Finance: Seychelles-linked coverage highlights Zoomex’s contract grid approach for sideways markets, while separate reporting notes Bitget’s push into TradFi products and new API tooling via Siebly.io—signals of how global trading platforms are competing on automation and developer access. Agriculture & Land Restoration: Berau and Seychelles are exploring candlenut (kemiri sunan) cultivation on post-mining lands, citing erosion control and long-term economic returns. Blue Economy Links: Analysis of India–Seychelles cooperation points to blue economy opportunities spanning maritime capacity, digital payments and development finance following PM Modi’s June 2026 visit.

EU AMLR Countdown: The EU’s Article 28 customer due diligence standards are due to be finalised by 10 July 2026, with the full AMLR rulebook set to become directly binding across member states from 10 July 2027—raising the compliance stakes for banks and other “obliged entities.” Maritime Security: A major East Africa high-seas operation seized 1,024kg of crystal methamphetamine from an unregistered dhow, underscoring how organised smuggling networks now use Seychelles-linked coordination and satellite phones to reach local markets. Digital Finance & Trading: Bitget says it hit nearly $70B in TradFi perpetual volume in Q2 2026, while also rolling out new unified trading account features and TradFi Quanto perpetual futures that settle non-USD stock exposure in USDT. Seychelles Business Leadership: SeyRe Global promoted Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following earlier senior appointments including a new CEO and CFO. Local Regulation Watch: A guide on Seychelles-regulated forex brokers highlights that traders are increasingly judging platforms on execution quality, fee clarity and risk tools—not just licensing. Scam Warning for Crypto Users: UK courts jailed three men for a fake-police crypto fraud that stole over £4M from victims, with spending linked to trips including the Maldives and Seychelles.

TradFi Meets Crypto: Bitget says TokenInsight data shows it generated nearly $70B in TradFi perpetual volume in Q2 2026, with TradFi perpetuals surging from $52B (Jan) to $268B (Jun) as exchanges push tokenised stocks and real-world assets. API for Trading Teams: Bitget also teamed up with Siebly.io to make it easier for developers to connect to its V3 Unified Trading Account and V2 Classic APIs for spot, futures, copy trading and market data. Unified Margin for Tokenised Stocks: Bitget launched a cross-asset unified account that pools margin across crypto and tokenised US equities (including 100 US stock tokens), aiming to improve capital efficiency. Seychelles Business & Finance: A Seychelles-focused fintech explainer highlights how digital finance can help the island state modernise services and reduce tourism-linked vulnerabilities, while another brief looks at what traders should know about Seychelles-regulated forex brokers. Maritime Security: East Africa’s Swahili coast is facing a shift from transit to entry, after Kenyan authorities seized 1,024kg of methamphetamine from an unregistered dhow linked to Seychelles coordination. Blue Economy Link: A piece on India–Seychelles relations points to blue economy cooperation after Modi’s June 2026 visit, spanning maritime, digital payments and agriculture. Tourism & Travel Demand: Seychelles-regulated forex and broader travel trends also appear in the week’s coverage, including Expedia’s island-holiday surge data that puts Praslin in the spotlight for nature lovers.

Regional Trade Leadership: Tanzania’s Vincent Minja has been elected PACCI Vice President for the East African region (2026–2028), representing 14 countries including Seychelles, with a mandate to boost intra-African trade and investment. Digital Finance & Payments: Seychelles’ SeyRe Global promotes Dinesh Salgadu to COO, while local fintech coverage also highlights how Seychelles-regulated forex brokers are positioning for more transparency and better trading execution as the market matures. Seychelles-India Blue Economy: A review of PM Modi’s 27–29 June Seychelles visit says 19 bilateral outcomes span development finance, digital payments, maritime cooperation and agriculture—aiming to strengthen ocean-based economic resilience. Crypto Industry Signals: Crypto funding stays active at $1.2bn in July even as DeFi funding hits a new low, and Bitget rolls out AI and cross-asset unified account features that blend crypto with tokenised US equities. Maritime Security Watch: A detailed look at a high-seas strike off Odesa underscores how merchant shipping is being pulled into modern conflict dynamics, with knock-on risks for global food flows. Wildlife Trade Alert: A Singapore crackdown story flags illegal tortoise sales on TikTok and Telegram, including species native to Seychelles.

Crypto & Fintech Watch: Crypto venture funding hit $1.2bn in July as overall deals stayed active, but DeFi funding slid to its lowest quarterly level since late 2023—investors still backed exchanges, prediction markets, payments and AI. Digital Finance for Seychelles: A new look at Seychelles’ fintech model says the island state’s edge is using digital finance to connect a dispersed economy, modernise established financial services, and reduce tourism-linked vulnerabilities. Seychelles in Global Markets: Seychelles-regulated forex brokers are being marketed to international retail traders, with the focus shifting from “just regulation” to execution quality, transparency, fees and real risk tools. Local Business Leadership: SeyRe Global promoted Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following earlier senior appointments including a new CEO and CFO. Payments Innovation: BOC Flex Tap & Pay launched in Sri Lanka, highlighting the region’s push toward mobile wallet contactless payments. Tourism Demand Signal: Seychelles Tourism Board says India interest is rising beyond honeymoons, with optimism for 15,000+ Indian arrivals in 2026 and improved connectivity driving growth. Industry Risk Alert: UK police sentenced three men for a fake-police crypto scam that stole £4m+ from victims and laundered proceeds through luxury spending, underscoring the need for stronger consumer safeguards. Trade & Travel Policy: Azerbaijan’s e-visa list for 2026 includes only five African countries—Seychelles is one of them—while Spain expanded visa-free entry for eight African nations.