Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade & Investment - Seychelles

03/06/2026

29/05/2026

On Wednesday 27th May 2026, we gathered to say our final goodbye to our dear Mrs. Jovana Esparon, our beloved Madame Esparon.

It was a day filled with emotions, reflection, and gratitude as family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones came together to celebrate the life of an extraordinary woman who touched so many hearts.

Madame Esparon was more than a colleague. She was a friend, a source of joy, strength, kindness, and love. Her beautiful smile, warm greetings, caring heart and uplifting spirit made a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Even through her illness, she remained courageous, positive, and full of life. She always put others before herself and never failed to make people feel valued and loved.

Liberty House will never be the same without her presence, but the memories she gave us will forever remain in our hearts.
Rest in eternal peace, Jojo.

You will always be remembered, deeply missed, and forever loved.

Orevwar nou bon dalon.

28/05/2026

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, the Human Resources and Budget Management Division of the Ministry hosted a “Mental Health in the Workplace” session facilitated by Mr. Allain Pierre.

The session provided valuable insights into the importance of mental well-being, the need to prioritize self-care, and practical ways to maintain good mental health in the workplace and beyond.

22/05/2026

Debt Management Division Participates in Commonwealth Secretariat Debt Management Training Programme

The Debt Management Division participated in a specialised training programme in collaboration with the Debt Management Unit of the Commonwealth Secretariat, held from 13th to 21st May 2026 at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment.

The programme formed part of a broader Commonwealth Secretariat mission on public debt management to Seychelles and brought together officials from the Ministry and the Central Bank of Seychelles to strengthen capacity in key areas of debt management, policy development, and market operations.

Over the course of the mission, technical sessions were conducted on debt management frameworks, including legal, institutional and operational arrangements, as well as the role of market intermediaries. Presentations and discussions were held on Seychelles’ existing debt portfolio composition, current debt management strategy, key challenges, and policy priorities.

The programme also covered domestic and external debt issuance and contraction, including instruments, processes and considerations. Participants engaged in in-depth sessions on risk management, including interest rate risk, foreign exchange risk, and other financial risks, supported by simulations and scenario analysis.

Further sessions addressed market structure and infrastructure, including primary and secondary markets and price discovery mechanisms, as well as liability management operations and strategies. Dedicated discussions were also held on ESG debt instruments, as well as capacity building and technical assistance needs.

The training included practical applications to the Seychelles Government securities market and concluded with a wrap-up session, reflecting on key takeaways and outlining next steps.
The programme concluded on 21st May 2026, with the departure of the mission team.

22/05/2026

Finance Minister calls on Banks to be more considerate and flexible during ongoing Middle East crisis

The Minister has urged banks to be more flexible, minimize the requirements for providing support to their clients, calling for more simplified processes, which appropriately considers the current uncertainty introduced by the Middle East tensions.

As part of Government’s efforts to assist the business community to cushion the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on the local economy, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade & Investment and the Central Bank of Seychelles held a meeting with members of the Seychelles Bankers Association this week.

The meeting, held on 20th May, was chaired by Finance Minister Pierre Laporte via video link from abroad. First Deputy Governor, Brian Commettant represented the Central Bank.

The aim of the meeting was to take stock of banks’ support to business and to discuss challenges that businesses continue to face in recruiting support from banks with a view to speeding up assistance.

The Minister reiterated the need for banks to remain supportive of the business community through these times of conflict. He stressed the need to support, in particular, the retail, wholesale and broader tourism sector as those have been particularly impacted by the conflict. For the tourism sector, the Minister directed banks to adopt the same business categorisation as what is being applied by public bodies like the Seychelles Revenue Commission and the Seychelles Pension Fund.

The banking sector engaged constructively on proposals of the Minister, and confirmed that they continue to work closely with their customers in need of assistance. On a case-by-case basis, banks have provided moratoriums, overdrafts or other credit restructuring arrangements where appropriate, supporting just under 100 businesses and individuals for a cumulative sum of approximately R145 million.

The Central Bank confirmed that it continues to monitor the situation and receives weekly updates from the banking sector regarding support measures being extended to impacted customers.

22/05/2026

Seychelles Deepens Anticipatory Governance Through National Strategic Foresight Capacities Programme

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment (MoFEPTI), in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) for Mauritius and Seychelles, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), successfully convened a three-day Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Workshop on Strategic Foresight and Systems Thinking for National Planning, Policies and Budgeting from 11-13 May 2026 in Victoria, Seychelles.

The workshop forms part of the Seychelles National Strategic Foresight Capacities Programme and reflects Government’s continued commitment to strengthening integrated, forward-looking and resilient public sector planning and budgeting systems. It builds on the foundational capacity-building programme launched in 2024, which introduced strategic foresight and systems thinking across government and supported the development of initial methodologies, tools and awareness linked to the National Development Strategy (NDS) 2024-2028.

This year’s programme expands the initiative beyond the original core team from MoFEPTI, bringing together economists, policy analysts, monitoring and evaluation officers, and other focal points from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). These participants are being equipped to serve as national foresight leads, supporting the integration of anticipatory governance and systems thinking into planning, policy development, budgeting and implementation processes across government.

Discussions during the workshop highlighted the urgency of strengthening national planning systems in the context of increasing global uncertainty. As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Seychelles remains highly exposed to external shocks including climate change, global economic volatility, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and shifts in tourism and investment flows. In this context, traditional planning approaches alone are no longer sufficient; there is a growing need for tools that enable governments to anticipate change and prepare for multiple possible futures.

Strategic foresight and systems thinking are increasingly recognised as essential approaches for strengthening resilience and improving decision-making in complex environments. For SIDS like Seychelles, these approaches help policymakers understand interconnections across sectors, identify emerging risks and opportunities, test policy resilience under different scenarios, and ensure more adaptive and sustainable development pathways.

Over the course of the workshop, participants engaged in hands-on sessions applying a range of foresight tools to national priorities. Participants also explored how these tools can be integrated into national planning and budgeting processes, including sector strategies, Medium-Term Expenditure Strategy (MTES) frameworks, policy design, contingency planning and results-based management systems.

The training placed strong emphasis on shifting from silo-based approaches to more integrated systems thinking across government. Beyond technical skills, discussions focused on the mindset and institutional changes required to strengthen anticipatory governance and foster a culture of long-term, evidence-based decision-making.

The workshop also marks an important milestone within a phased national programme for 2026. Following the current “Design and Build” phase, the initiative will move into a “Test and Pilot” phase involving selected MDAs, before progressing to a broader national rollout and scale-up of training across government institutions. Expected outcomes of the programme include the institutionalisation of foresight practices within planning and budgeting workflows, improved quality and resilience of sector planning, and the establishment of a sustainable national cadre of trainers capable of supporting implementation with minimal external assistance.

This initiative reinforces Seychelles’ commitment to strengthen governance, improve policy coherence, enhance resilience, and build a more agile and future-oriented public sector capable of navigating an increasingly complex global environment.

18/05/2026

On Tuesday 5th May, the Roche Caiman Fitness Trail came alive with the IP Run for Sports Innovation, uniting colleagues, athletes, and families in a vibrant celebration. It was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth & Sports, the National Sports Council, and the National IP Committee, the event showcased the power of teamwork and creativity.

Supported by the Trade Division, the Victoria City Football Club, and proud sponsors Seychelles Breweries and Hidden Springs, the run was a true community highlight.

This year’s World IP Day 2026 theme — IP & Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!, emphasized how innovation drives sports and inspires healthier lifestyles, perfectly reflected in the energy of the run.
More than a race, the IP Run for Sports Innovation was a celebration of resilience, unity, and the boundless energy of Seychelles. 🏃‍♀️✨️🧠

18/05/2026

Ready?Set?Go!!!📢🏐🏀⚽️🏏🎾🏓🏸

Its here!!, attention to all Post Secondary and A Level students. In commemoration of World IP Day 2026 under theme of IP & Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate! and as part of the ongoing activities. The Trade Division is pleased to announce the launch of the 'Creative Challenge' for the Jersey Concept Design.🎽💠🎖🏅

Interested? Why not! As participants stand the chance to win exciting cash & other prizes🥇🥈🥉🎁

🗓 Individual registration to compete is open until the 5th of June 2026. All jersey designs🎽 must be submitted by the 3rd of July 2026🗓

May the best designer win!! Lets Go!!!🎆🎇🎉

15/05/2026

Statement regarding imports by the Office of the President

This statement is issued in response to public commentary and media coverage regarding imports associated with the Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles.

As part of its internal review of certain activities observed by the current Administration upon assuming office, including the discovery of an unauthorised garage operation at State House and an ongoing audit of fixed assets, a formal request was made to the Seychelles Revenue Commission for records of all goods imported under the Office of the President’s Tax Identification Number over the preceding five years.

In responding to this request, the Seychelles Revenue Commission inadvertently included, alongside the records of the Seychelles Presidency, import records associated with a separate Tax Identification Number registered to the Presidential Affairs of the United Arab Emirates.

The Government notes with concern the content of the information provided. This includes the volume of items recorded across all parties, as well as the nature of certain items imported under the Seychelles Presidency’s Tax Identification Number, which have raised questions that warrant further scrutiny.

Accordingly, the Government has initiated a formal investigation into the imports associated with the Office of the President of Seychelles. As this investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further on its specifics at this time. The Government will communicate further findings to the public as and when it is appropriate and responsible to do so.

The Administration remains committed to transparency and to the responsible management of public resources, and will not allow irregularities of this nature to go unaddressed.

04/05/2026

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