26/03/2021
“The National Development Strategy of Seychelles, also known as the NDS, is a roadmap which presents Seychelles’ pathway towards sustainable and inclusive growth. It articulates strategic development choices for the years 2019-2023. The NDS was formulated through consultations with a diverse cross-section of Seychellois society, and is founded on six thematic pillars, namely; Good governance- Pillar 1, People at the center of development- Pillar 2, Social cohesion- Pillar 3, Innovative Economy- Pillar 4, Economic transformation-Pillar 5 and Environmental sustainability and resilience- Pillar 6. Although subject to revisions given new socio-economic realities, the NDS continues to provide a promising outlook for future achievements and remains the key instrument through which we ensure the strengthening of our country’s resilience in the face of external shocks, particularly in these challenging times.
I would agree that the onset of the pandemic has taught Seychelles as a whole, valuable lessons. In particular it highlighted the importance of a robust and accessible health system.
Furthermore, it brought about a renewed sense of community and solidarity, exemplified by the willingness of many NGOs and private companies to donate supplies and financial resources to the national recovery efforts.
The importance of digitalization and technology was brought forward as well, since work, school and recreation moved online via videoconferencing platforms. This reignited interest in possibilities such as “Working from Home” and “Flexi-Hours”. Indeed, the continuity of both Government services and private businesses was largely aided by this new approach. After all, if one can access a product or service from the comfort of one’s own home, this can be helpful to break the chain of transmission of the virus, all while ensuring the continuity of businesses and badly-needed economic activities.
As it has been seen, our high vulnerability to external shocks and dependence on the tourism sector was revealed in an unprecedented manner. In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry was dealt a severe blow, recording a decline of 70% in tourist arrivals, as compared to 2019. Moreover, the tourism industry is now compelled to increase Seychelles’ visibility as a destination in new and emerging markets and diversify the product offered by Seychelles as a destination (cultural tourism).
The apparent fragility of the tourism industry has sparked interest as to the role of alternative industries such as, Agriculture, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, as means to generate both employment opportunities and foreign exchange earnings. The development of such industries will require substantial investment, with returns only likely to be seen in the long-run.
Moreover, the need for Research and Development (R&D) is pressing, as greater R&D is expected to increase innovation and value-addition in the existing economic sectors, as well as providing the platform for evidence-based policy making.
Overall, the onset of the pandemic has brought a multitude of changes (and disruptions really!) to the way of life which we had been so accustomed to. It revealed our vulnerabilities as a Small Island Developing State, all while bringing to light our determination to overcome hardship and rebuild our country. As we look ahead towards mass-vaccination and herd immunity, I’m reminded that we must learn from this crisis or face dire consequences in the next global disruption. Let us all take these difficult times as motivation to be our best selves, with the understanding that once the pandemic subsides, our country will still need each and every one of us to rise to the occasion and contribute towards her development. Precisely, it is during this era that resilience will be our virtue and will hold as the mere foundation for our society to build back better for the sake and love of the generations to come” - Ms. Kelly-Mary Anette, Economist - Economic Planning Department
