Category Archives: Seychelles

National carrier Kenya Airways has secured unlimited frequency of flights to Seychelles, boosting the airlines turnaround strategy.

KQ has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seychelles Tourism Board, which will allow the national carrier increase its weekly flights to five from the current four.

Seychelles Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marines minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said Kenya Airways is, however, free to increase its flights to any number depending on its capacity.

"Kenya Airways is not restricted it can go even to seven or more. This is an open agreement," Lalanne said during the signing of the deal at the Ministry of Transport.

The agreement is expected to promote tourism and boost intra-Africa trade, officials said.

The agreement is also anchored on aspiration to strengthen the airline presence in Seychelles. Increased frequency will increase KQ's revenues, a boost to its ongoing recovery strategy as it strives to return to profitability.

"This partnership will also underscore the important role that Kenya Airways plays in the African economy development, specifically creating vital linkages between the continent and the international market on which tourism and other key sectors depend on and thrive, " Kenya Airways outgoing chief executive Mbuvi Ngunze said.

Lalanne challenged KQ to ensure it has cargo capacity to handle exports and imports between the two countries, which could be boosted by the renewed bilateral trade agreements.

Seychelles targets to export hundreds of tonnes of fish to Kenya, while it will seek to import flowers, vegetables and meat products, which they presently import from New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.

Transport CS James Macharia affirmed the government's commitment to support Kenya Airways recovery strategy.

He said the government is also keen to secure more bilateral agreements.

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KQ clinches open-sky deal with Seychelles - The Star, Kenya

Israeli lawmaker Ksenia Svetlova married her fianc this week in the Seychelles, and took the opportunity to criticize the Chief Rabbinates monopoly on marriage in Israel.

The Zionist Union member of Knesset, who has been an active parliamentary proponent for civil marriage in Israel, said dryly that the only one absent from their ceremony on the Indian Ocean island was the Orthodox rabbinate, which has a monopoly on marriage in the State of Israel.

We both felt that this entity has nothing to do with our Judaism, and we were not ready to be forced on the happiest day of our lives to play according to the rules of a game that is alien to us, Svetlova wrote Monday on her Facebook page.

Israeli marriages are performed under laws inherited from Ottoman times. Citizens may only marry through their religious institutions: Jewish couples must marry through the Chief Rabbinate, and Christians, Druze and Muslims all marry through their own state-sanctioned and publicly funded religious systems.

Among Jews, only Orthodox ceremonies are recognized. This also impacts interfaith and same-sex marriages. Those who wish to marry or divorce outside the faith are forced to travel overseas for a civil ceremony, with nearby Cyprus one of the most popular options.

A poll released last month showed that 72 percent of Jewish Israelis support civil marriage and 76% of Arab Israelis favor marriage freedom in Israel, where citizens cannot legally marry outside their faith.

No one has ownership of Judaism, wrote Svetlova, and it is inconceivable that in a Jewish state one obsessive body will have an absolute monopoly on our lives!

She said she hoped Israeli couples would be able to marry however they like in the future, and wouldnt be forced to wed outside the country if they chose to do so in a non-Orthodox fashion.

I will continue to work for this purpose at the Knesset, she promised, once I get back from my honeymoon.

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MK weds in Seychelles, slams lack of civil marriage in Israel - The Times of Israel

April 4, 2017

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMFs Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for discussion and decision.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Mr. Wendell Samuel visited Victoria from March 22April 4 to conduct discussions on the 2017 Article IV consultation and the sixth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) [1] Arrangement with Seychelles.

At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Samuel issued the following statement:

Macroeconomic performance continued to be strong in 2016. Economic growth reached 4.5 percent, reflecting increased tourist arrivals, stronger output in the fishing industry, and expanding credit to the private sector. Helped by low commodity prices and a stable exchange rate, inflation (year-on-year) was negative throughout 2016. The external current account deficit remained largely unchanged, while net international reserves exceeded the program target by US$14 million. Supported by lower than budgeted capital outlays and strong tax revenue growth, the 2016 primary fiscal surplus reached 3.4 percent of GDP, comfortably exceeding the program target. The end-2016 reserve money ceiling was missed by a very narrow margin, due to stronger-than-expected growth in foreign currency deposits.

With continued foreign investments and rising arrivals in the tourism sector, the growth outlook for 2017 remains positive. The rising trend in international fuel prices since late 2016, along with fiscal measures in the 2017 budget, could put pressure on inflation and on the balance of payments. International reserves are expected to remain at an adequate level, anchored by strong macroeconomic policies. Downside risks to the outlook stem largely from the external sector.

In view of the fact that the 2017 budget is supported mainly by one-off revenue measures, the mission discussed permanent fiscal measures in 2018 that would help secure the medium-term debt reduction target. It stressed that inability to contain fiscal spending pressures could undermine governments efforts to sustain strong fiscal primary surpluses and jeopardize medium-term public debt reduction goals. The team concurred with the authorities about the need to address structural weaknesses and promote inclusive growth, including through further diversification in the context of the Blue Economy initiatives, improving the business climate, and strengthening the state-owned enterprise sector. The central bank should continue to maintain a flexible exchange rate while limiting foreign exchange interventions to the extent needed to avoid excess volatility and preserve reserve coverage at an adequate level. At the same time, the bank is called upon to remain vigilant to inflationary pressure stemming from rising international commodity prices and fiscal measures in the 2017 budget.

As a small archipelagic country, Seychelles is becoming increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and to climate change. Over the long run, the economic costs of such events could be large and unpredictable. To better address these challenges, the authorities jointly with international partners need to pursue a medium-term strategy that would create additional fiscal space to undertake the necessary climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. In addition, climate change should be integrated into public financial management and options for risk sharing need to be carefully explored.

Subject to the approval of IMF Management, the IMF Executive Board is expected to discuss the completion of the review and the Article IV consultation in June 2017. The mission appreciates the high quality of the discussions and thanks the authorities for their hospitality, as well as the open and constructive dialogue.

The team met with His Excellency President Danny Faure, Minister of Finance, Trade, and Planning Peter Larose, and Governor of the CBS Caroline Abel, as well as other government officials, members of the National Assembly, and representatives of the private sector and civil society.

[1] The Extended Fund Facility under the Extended Arrangement is an instrument of the IMF designed for countries facing medium-term balance of payments problems because of structural weaknesses that require time to address. Assistance under the Extended Fund Facility features longer program engagementto help countries implement medium-term structural reformsand a longer repayment period. (See http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/eff.htm ). Details on Seychelles Extended Arrangement are available at http://www.imf.org/seychelles .

PRESS OFFICER: Andrew Kanyegirire

Phone:+1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

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IMF Staff Completes Visit to Seychelles - International Monetary Fund

Photo: Seychelles President Danny Faure (left) with Deputy President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi yesterday. Photo/AYUB MUIYURO

An agreement between the Kenyan and Sychelles governments has opened more job opportunities for Kenyan teachers in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Horticulture, poultry, meat and dairy farmers will also benefit from Seychelles markets, following talks between visiting President Danny Faure with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi yesterday.

Addressing a joint press conference, the two leaders also agreed to partner in other areas of development, including trade and security and the development of the blue economy. They also agreed to increase flights and cargo between the two countries.

Uhuru said his government and that of Seychelles are working on modalities on how Kenyan teachers will start offering services in Seychellois schools.

Also read: Families of 5 victims of Kakamega lightning tragedy in mourning

Just like Rwanda, Namibia and now Liberia we are hoping to conclude agreements on how our teachers will be exported to Seychelles, the President said.

On security, terrorism, piracy and the war against drugs, Uhuru said the two governments had agreed to share intelligence and ideas. He said Kenyas campaign against drug trafficking had benefitted a lot from the support of the Seychelles government.

President Faure, who is on three-day State visit, said Seychelles is interested in benefiting from Kenyas human capital especially in the education sector. His country, he said, had a lot of confidence in the quality of Kenyan teachers since a group of teachers was sent to Seychelles in 1998.

Also read: KNH doctors successfully remove knife from Wajir woman's cheek

Faure, who is visiting Kenya for the first time since he became President in October last year, said his country is ready to work with Kenya to develop its blue economy and to improve the security of its Exclusive Economic Zone.

Apart from education, we need to have more technical agreements to also tap on other areas of expertise which we can benefit from, he said. He assured Uhuru that Seychelles will support Kenya, including with consultancy services, on how to explore the fishing sector.

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Seychelles opens doors for Kenyan teachers, farmers - K24 TV

(Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post)

The United Arab Emirates arranged a secret meeting in January between Blackwater founder Erik Prince and a Russian close to President Vladimir Putin as part of an apparent effort to establish a back-channel line of communication between Moscow and President-elect Donald Trump, according to U.S., European and Arab officials.

The meeting took place around Jan. 11 nine days before Trumps inauguration in the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean, officials said. Though the full agenda remains unclear, the UAE agreed to broker the meeting in part to explore whether Russia could be persuaded to curtail its relationship with Iran, including in Syria, a Trump administration objective that would be likely to require major concessions to Moscow on U.S. sanctions.

Though Prince had no formal role with the Trump campaign or transition team, he presented himself as an unofficial envoy for Trump to high-ranking Emiratis involved in setting up his meeting with the Putin confidant, according to the officials, who did not identify the Russian.

Prince was an avid supporter of Trump. After the Republican convention, he contributed $250,000 to Trumps campaign, the national party and a pro-Trump super PAC led by GOP mega-donor Rebekah Mercer, records show. He has ties to people in Trumps circle, including Stephen K. Bannon, now serving as the presidents chief strategist and senior counselor. Princes sister Betsy DeVos serves as education secretary in the Trump administration. And Prince was seen in the Trump transition offices in New York in December.

U.S. officials said the FBI has been scrutinizing the Seychelles meeting as part of a broader probe of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election and alleged contacts between associates of Putin and Trump. The FBI declined to comment.

The Seychelles encounter, which one official said spanned two days, adds to an expanding web of connections between Russia and Americans with ties to Trump contacts that the White House has been reluctant to acknowledge or explain until they have been exposed by news organizations.

We are not aware of any meetings, and Erik Prince had no role in the transition, said Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary.

A Prince spokesman said in a statement: Erik had no role on the transition team. This is a complete fabrication. The meeting had nothing to do with President Trump. Why is the so-called under-resourced intelligence community messing around with surveillance of American citizens when they should be hunting terrorists?

Prince is best known as the founder of Blackwater, a security firm that became a symbol of U.S. abuses in Iraq after a series of incidents, including one in 2007 in which the companys guards were accused and later criminally convicted of killing civilians in a crowded Iraqi square. Prince sold the firm, which was subsequently re-branded, but has continued building a private paramilitary empire with contracts across the Middle East and Asia. He now heads a Hong Kong-based company known as the Frontier Services Group.

Prince would probably have been seen as too controversial to serve in any official capacity in the Trump transition or administration. But his ties to Trump advisers, experience with clandestine work and relationship with the royal leaders of the Emirates where he moved in 2010 amid mounting legal problems for his American business would have positioned him as an ideal go-between.

The Seychelles meeting came after separate private discussions in New York involving high-ranking representatives of Trump with both Moscow and the Emirates.

The White House has acknowledged that Michael T. Flynn, Trumps original national security adviser, and Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with the Russian ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak, in late November or early December in New York.

Flynn and Kushner were joined by Bannon for a separate meeting with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who made an undisclosed visit to New York later in December, according to the U.S., European and Arab officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

In an unusual breach of protocol, the UAE did not notify the Obama administration in advance of the visit, though officials found out because Zayeds name appeared on a flight manifest.

Officials said Zayed and his brother, the UAEs national security adviser, coordinated the Seychelles meeting with Russian government officials with the goal of establishing an unofficial back channel between Trump and Putin.

Officials said Zayed wanted to be helpful to both leaders, who had talked about working more closely together, a policy objective long advocated by the crown prince. The UAE, which sees Iran as one of its main enemies, also shared the Trump teams interest in finding ways to drive a wedge between Moscow and Tehran.

Zayed met twice with Putin in 2016, according to Western officials, and urged the Russian leader to work more closely with the Emirates and Saudi Arabia an effort to isolate Iran.

At the time of the Seychelles meeting and for weeks afterward, the UAE believed that Prince had the blessing of the new administration to act as its unofficial representative. The Russian participant was a person whom Zayed knew was close to Putin from his interactions with both men, the officials said.

Scrutiny over Russia

When the Seychelles meeting took place, official contacts between members of the incoming Trump administration and the Russian government were under intense scrutiny, both from federal investigators and the press.

Less than a week before the Seychelles meeting, U.S. intelligence agencies released a report accusing Russia of intervening clandestinely during the 2016 election to help Trump win the White House.

The FBI was already investigating communications between Flynn and Kislyak. The Washington Posts David Ignatius first disclosed those communications on Jan.12, around the time of the Seychelles meeting. Flynn was subsequently fired by Trump for misleading Vice President Pence and others about his discussions with Kislyak.

Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAEs ambassador in Washington, declined to comment.

Government officials in the Seychelles said they were not aware of any meetings between Trump and Putin associates in the country around Jan.11. But they said luxury resorts on the island are ideal for clandestine gatherings like the one described by the U.S., European and Arab officials.

I wouldnt be surprised at all, said Barry Faure, the Seychelles secretary of state for foreign affairs. The Seychelles is the kind of place where you can have a good time away from the eyes of the media. Thats even printed in our tourism marketing. But I guess this time you smelled something.

Trump has dismissed the investigations of Russias role in the election as fake news and a witch hunt.

The level of discretion surrounding the Seychelles meeting seems extraordinary given the frequency with which senior Trump advisers, including Flynn and Kushner, had interacted with Russian officials in the United States, including at the high-profile Trump Tower in New York.

Steven Simon, a National Security Council senior director for the Middle East and North Africa in the Obama White House, said: The idea of using business cutouts, or individuals perceived to be close to political leaders, as a tool of diplomacy is as old as the hills. These unofficial channels are desirable precisely because they are deniable; ideas can be tested without the risk of failure.

Current and former U.S. officials said that while Prince refrained from playing a direct role in the Trump transition, his name surfaced so frequently in internal discussions that he seemed to function as an outside adviser whose opinions were valued on a range of issues, including plans for overhauling the U.S. intelligence community.

He appears to have particularly close ties to Bannon, appearing multiple times as a guest on Bannons satellite radio program over the past year as well as in articles on the Breitbart Web site that Bannon ran before joining the Trump campaign.

In a July interview with Bannon, Prince said those seeking forceful U.S. leadership should wait till January and hope Mr. Trump is elected. And he lashed out at President Barack Obama, saying that because of his policies the terrorists, the fascists, are winning.

Days before the November election, Prince appeared on Bannons program again, saying that he had well-placed sources in the New York City Police Department telling him they were preparing to make arrests in the investigation of former congressman Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) over allegations he exchanged sexually explicit texts with a minor. Flynn tweeted a link to the Breitbart report on the claim. No arrests occurred.

Prince went on to make unfounded assertions that damaging material recovered from Weiners computers would implicate Hillary Clinton and her close adviser, Huma Abedin, who was married to Weiner. He also called Abedin an agent of influence very sympathetic to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Prince and his family were major GOP donors in 2016. The Center for Responsive Politics reported that the family gave more than $10 million to GOP candidates and super PACs, including about $2.7 million from his sister, DeVos, and her husband.

Princes father, Edgar Prince, built his fortune through an auto-parts company. Betsy married Richard DeVos Jr., heir to the Amway fortune.

Erik Prince has had lucrative contracts with the UAE government, which at one point paid his firm a reported $529million to help bring in foreign fighters to help assemble an internal paramilitary force capable of carrying out secret operations and protecting Emirati installations from terrorist attacks.

Focus on Iran

The Trump administration and the UAE appear to share a similar preoccupation with Iran. Current and former officials said that Trump advisers were focused throughout the transition period on exploring ways to get Moscow to break ranks with Tehran.

Separating Russia from Iran was a common theme, said a former intelligence official in the Obama administration who met with Trump transition officials. It didnt seem very well thought out. It seemed a little premature. They clearly had a very specific policy position, which I found odd given that they hadnt even taken the reins and explored with experts in the U.S. government the pros and cons of that approach.

Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia, said he also had discussions with people close to the Trump administration about the prospects of drawing Russia away from Iran. When I would hear this, I would think, Yeah thats great for you guys, but why would Putin ever do that? McFaul said. There is no interest in Russia ever doing that. They have a long relationship with Iran. Theyre allied with Iran in fighting in Syria. They sell weapons to Iran. Iran is an important strategic partner for Russia in the Middle East.

Following the New York meeting between the Emiratis and Trump aides, Zayed was approached by Prince, who said he was authorized to act as an unofficial surrogate for the president-elect, according to the officials. He wanted Zayed to set up a meeting with a Putin associate. Zayed agreed and proposed the Seychelles as the meeting place because of the privacy it would afford both sides. He wanted to be helpful, one official said of Zayed.

Wealthy Russians and Emirati royalty have a particularly large footprint on the islands. Signs advertising deep-sea fishing trips are posted in Cyrillic. Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov owns North Island, where Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, went on their honeymoon in 2011. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the UAE, built a hilltop palace for himself with views across the chain of islands.

The Emiratis have given hundreds of millions of dollars to the Seychelles in recent years for causes including public health and affordable housing. But when the Emirati royal family visits, they are rarely seen.

The jeep comes to their private jet on the tarmac and they disappear, said one Seychellois official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he did not want to be seen as criticizing the Emiratis.

Zayed, the crown prince, owns a share of the Seychelles Four Seasons, a collection of private villas scattered on a lush hillside on the main islands southern shore, overlooking the Indian Ocean, according to officials in the Seychelles. The hotel is tucked away on a private beach, far from the nearest public road.

Current and former U.S. officials who have worked closely with Zayed, who is often referred to as MBZ, say it would be out of character for him to arrange the Jan.11 meeting without getting a green light in advance from top aides to Trump and Putin, if not the leaders themselves. MBZ is very cautious, said an American businessman who knows Zayed and spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. There had to be a nod.

The Seychelles meeting was deemed productive by the UAE and Russia, but the idea of arranging additional meetings between Prince and Putins associates was dropped, officials said. Even unofficial contacts between Trump and Putin associates had become too politically risky, officials said.

Sieff reported from the Seychelles. Julie Tate, Devlin Barrett, Matea Gold, Tom Hamburger and Rosalind S. Helderman contributed to this report.

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Blackwater founder held secret Seychelles meeting to establish Trump-Putin back channel - Washington Post

With more than 100 islands forming part of the archipelago, it can be hard to determine which island is right for you.

To be honest: you cant go wrong on any island in the Seychelles. Although each island is unique, they all offer breathtaking beauty, azure seas, beautiful white sandy beaches and a tropical climate in short: paradise.

However, if youre looking for the perfect island for you, here are some tips you might want to consider:

Conservation highlights Frgate Island

Conservation is the name of the game on this island and prides itself on its conservation activities.

The beaches of Frgate is known to provide a vital nesting habitat for two species of sea turtle: the endangered Hawksbill Turtle and the endangered Green Turtle. During every nesting season from October to January, the islands conservation staff safeguards and monitors the nests.

Travellers have the chance to witness first-hand the sight of a female turtle laying her eggs on the shore. A truly magical experience.

Did you know? Frgate provides a unique and secluded island experience with just 16 exclusively designed villas, all arranged to offer privacy. Only 3km large, Frgate offers seven dream beaches with crystal clear waters, as well as flora and fauna unparalleled in the world.

The best nightlife Mah Island

Dress up and put on your dancing shoes in Mah. Should you find yourself in the capital, you will soon realise that it truly comes to life at night in true island style.This island

While it is really up to you where you would like to party it up, the two most popular nightclubs are Katiolo Night Club, which is located at Anse Faure, and Club Lovenut in the centre of Victoria.

Katiolo is considered to be the number one nightclub in the Seychelles with its open-air tropical dcor by the beach and latest hits music. Although the vibe is quite relaxed, the club has a strict dress code: no shorts and flip flops here.

Club Lovenut and Caf is a fully air conditioned club and offers a luxury VIP area. It is one of the popular nightlife spots of Mahe for young people, and the club guarantees the latest hit releases.

Unforgettable angling Alphonse Island

Considered a fly-angler's paradise, the expansive flats surrounding the Alphonse atolls provide the fly-fishing experience of a lifetime. Ten thousand acres of hard white sand flats provide easy wading and world class sight-fishing.

Alphonse Island has some of the richest fishing grounds in the world with an abundance of wahoo, sailfish, dorado, tuna, rainbow runner and trophies such as marlin.

Did you know? Alphonse also accounts for more than 90% of worlds Milkfish caught and released on an annual basis. Anyone catching these big game fish will have the bragging rights when returning home

Unashamed luxury and romance North Island

One of the top luxury private island resorts in Seychelles, North Island offers unashamed luxury, bespoke service and exceptional privacy and exclusivity in your tropical home away from home.

True luxury at North Island consists uninterrupted time together, which makes it the ideal romantic escape. The North Island team loves creating special moments for couples from dinners on the beach to couples massages.

Family holidays St Anne

With its friendly and welcoming people, tropical temperatures and beautiful beaches, Seychelles is the ideal family destination.

The Bob Marlin Kids Club at Sainte Anne Resort and Spa is sure to keep your little ones entertained with a specially built, child-friendly facility, packed with all kinds of toys, games and activities that children love. Well-trained and multi-lingual childcare staff is on call all day and night to make sure your little ones are happy.

Kids and teens can participate in water sports, land sports, cultural activities as well as learn new skills, and arts and crafts. Theyll spend their day sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.

Golfing in paradise Praslin

Want to show off your handicap? Praslin will prove to be your golfing muse. The Constance Lemuria Resort is home to a championship par 70 18-hole golf course, offering spectacular views of three beaches and beautifully terraced greens.

Golfing here is not for the faint-hearted though, as the course is considered a tough challenge with elevated tees, water hazards and wide fairways.

Word of adviceThe first 12 holes can be played at a leisurely pace, but from the 13th hole the real challenge starts. Expect steep slopes with thick forest and spectacular views.

Underwater wonders Silhouette Island

With dive sites ranging in depth from 8m to 30m, the Seychelles is the ideal diving destination for both experienced divers and beginner divers

At Silhouette Island, you will discover a barrier reef with some of the healthiest coral in the Seychelles. The island's granite cliffs are also sure to make for a spectacular background to your dives.

You can expect to see blue-spotted rays, white-tip sharks, hawksbill turtles, grey snappers and batfish abound. Divers will also be able to see barracudas, spotted eagle rays, moray eels, lionfish and parrotfish to name but a few.

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Seychelles part 1: Which island in Seychelles is right for you? - Independent Online

Economy & Politics Monday, April 3, 2017 23:16

By OUMA WANZALA

Kenya and Seychelles have joined forces to end illegal fishing and combat piracy in the Indian Ocean.

Speaking at State House in Nairobi after holding bilateral talks yesterday, Seychelles President Danny Faure and Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta agreed to support best fishing practices as well as share intelligence on maritime security.

We will be exchanging intelligence and ideas on how to combat drug trafficking, piracy and terrorism in Indian Ocean. We will eliminate this evil trade, said Mr Kenyatta, adding that Seychelles would help Kenya develop its fishing industry at the Coast.

The coastline between the two countries has witnessed cases of piracy and drug trafficking.

Describing Mr Faures visit as historic, Mr Kenyatta said it marked the beginning of a new chapter in the partnership between the two countries. Seychelles can support Kenya in development of its blue economy with partnership in areas such as tourism, horticulture and livestock industry, he said .

He added that teachers would be deployed to Seychelles to support its education sector. However, he did not disclose the number. We have been exporting our human capital to several countries such as Namibia, Rwanda and Liberia among others and we will continue to do so, he said.

Mr Faure said a total of 400 Kenyans are working in his country as experts in the private sector.

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Kenya, Seychelles link up to combat illegal fishing, piracy - Business Daily (press release) (blog)

Today, the Province of KwaZulu-Natal welcomed the inaugural flight of Air Seychelles to Durbans King Shaka International Airport.

Air Seychelles will be flying a twice-weekly non-stop service on Thursdays and Saturdays, connecting Durban and the Seychelles' capital Mah, using an Airbus A320 Aircraft with a 16-seat business class and 120-seat economy configuration, which will achieve an average flight time of 5 hours, 20 minutes.

Air Seychelles

Mr Sihle Zikalala, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs said KwaZulu-Natal, with its thriving tourism sector, placed great importance in opening its borders to foreign visitors. "These include a combination of general tourists and potential investors who contribute significantly to the regions economic growth. This new airline route will therefore further help in facilitating that movement of leisure and business travelers between KwaZulu-Natal and the Seychelles."

Zikalala added that the new route into the Seychelles would boost the supply various consumer goods, machinery parts and implements, which the island currently imports. "With available cargo capacity on the Airbus A320 aircraft being flown by Air Seychelles, freighting goods using this flight will contribute towards KwaZulu-Natal produced goods being more competitive within the Seychelles.

Given that there are already South African retailers with operation on the island nation, suppliers who have been flying their goods out of Johannesburg, now have a direct route, and far more convenient logistics option, which speaks directly to the potential of this route, said the MEC.

Durbans King Shaka International Airport has seen an increase in the number of regional and international airlines, which have introduced new air services into the airport; since late 2015 Durban has attracted six new airlines, which together provide onward connections to over 700 destinations around the globe.

Mr Hamish Erskine, CEO, Dube TradePort Corporation noted, The KwaZulu-Natal Route Development Committee has been working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to secure the introduction of new regional and international air services to Durbans King Shaka International Airport. Strategically presenting data-driven business cases to airlines, we aim to show route planners, from around the world, the potential market that exists within Durban and the rest of KwaZulu-Natal. We are always motivated when a new airline takes up our offer and commences a new route into Durban; we had been in talks with Air Seychelles for the last 12 months for them to put on this new non-stop route.

Air Seychelles will provide onward connectivity to key destinations across Europe, the Far East, India and the Middle East, through the hub in Abu Dhabi. Air Seychelles' connection to Mumbai will provide a convenient travel option for KwaZulu-Natal and other neighbouring provinces.

Alan Renaud, General Manager for Aeropolitical, Alliances and Public Affairs said, We are delighted to begin serving the vibrant city of Durban with twice-weekly flights from Seychelles. Our route network now boasts air connections to one of the most popular cities on South Africa's coast, known for its Golden Mile beach and fantastic surfing, and we are confident it will attract strong leisure traffic and business traffic from across our network.

The new route will strengthen socio-economic cooperation between Durban and Seychelles and will contribute towards inter-regional development by becoming another commercial launch pad for KwaZulu-Natal into the rest of the world.

Air Seychelles Flight Schedule:

Flight No. Origin

Departs

Destination

Arrives

Day

Aircraft

HM63

Seychelles

09:25

Durban

12:50

Thursday, Saturday

A320

HM62

Durban

13:45

Seychelles

21:05

Thursday, Saturday

A320

*All departures and arrivals above are listed in local time.

Air Seychelles Air Seychelles was established in 1978 and began long-haul service in 1983. The airline currently offers international flights to Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and Mauritius, operated by its new A330-200 aircraft. Air Seychelles also offers more than 160 domestic scheduled flights a week throughout the archipelago, as well as domestic charter services. As the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, Air Seychelles is a pillar of tourism, the island nations strongest and growing economic sector.

The Airline visions and mission is to be a profitable and high quality Airline and delivering to their guests a quality service with unique Creole warmth.

In 2012 and as part of a strategic partnership alliance, Etihad Airways acquired a 40 percent stake in Air Seychelles at a cost of $20 million. The deal also called for the Seychelles government to pump in another $20 million into Air Seychelles. Etihad also agreed to provide a shareholder loan of $25 million to cover the Airline cash needs and to fund the development of its network. The agreement also made for provision for a five-year management contract for Etihad Airways to see the implementation of strategic measures to encourage Air Seychelles long-term commercial growth.

In April 2014, Air Seychelles, announced a net profit of US$3 million for 2013, exceeding by 171 percent its profit of US$1.1 million reported in 2012. Revenue increased by 107 per cent to US$88.7 million (2012: US$42.8 million). The airlines passenger numbers on its international network increased 100per cent to 195,857 (2012:97,576), while traffic on domestic services in 2013 increased nine per cent to 156,617 passengers.

For the future, it is the Airline plan to grow its operations, launch new routes, take delivery of new aircraft, expand the airline partnerships, hire more Seychellois, and bring in more travellers to the Seychelles.

29 South, 7 Umsinsi Junction, Dube City, La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, 4399 Tel: +27 32 814 0000, Fax: +27 32 814 0100 Email: info@dubetradeport.co.za | Web: http://www.dubetradeport.co.za

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Air Seychelles starts flights to Durban - Engineering News - Creamer Media's Engineering News

Seychelles President Danny Faure will visit Kenya on Monday.

Faure will be welcomed by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House.

The visit will begin with a 21gun salute, a teteatete meeting with Uhuru, State House spokesman Manoah Esipisu said on Sunday.

Esipisu said the two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting, followed by a State Luncheon in honour Faure.

"Kenya and Seychelles share warm and cordial bilateral relations. Areas of interest between both countries include Maritime Security," he said.

He said the cooperation will be enhanced through other initiatives such as sharing of intelligence and capacity building measures.

"Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for Kenya and Seychelles and the two countries share similar product - beach tourism," he said.

Esipisu said there are opportunities of cooperation in this sector between the two countries.

These include sharing of best practices, training and exchange programmes, joint marketing strategies and joint packaging of the destinations.

He also said Kenya stands to benefit by encouraging qualified Kenyans to seek employment in Seychelles.

"Seychelles requires well-trained and skilled human capital for employment in various sectors of their economy," he said.

"This will not only have an impact on the economies of the two countries but will also increase the linkages between Kenya and Seychelles."

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Kenya to host Seychelles President Danny Faure on Monday - The Star, Kenya

Delegates celebrate the launch of the Air Seychelles flight to Durban.

Yesterday the inaugural flight of Air Seychelles to Durbans King Shaka International Airport landed safely on the runway a significant event for KZN tourism.

Air Seychelles will be flying a twice-weekly non-stop service on Thursdays and Saturdays, connecting Durban and the Seychelles capital Mah, using an Airbus A320 aircraft.

The Airbus has a 16-seat business class and 120-seat economy configuration, which will achieve an average flight time of five hours, 20 minutes.

KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala said KwaZulu-Natal, with its thriving tourism sector, placed great importance in opening its borders to foreign visitors.

These include a combination of general tourists and potential investors who contribute significantly to the regions economic growth. This new airline route will further help in facilitating that movement of leisure and business travelers between KwaZulu-Natal and the Seychelles.

Zikalala said the new route into the Seychelles would boost the supply of various consumer goods, machinery parts and implements, which the island currently imports.

With available cargo capacity on the Airbus A320 aircraft being flown by Air Seychelles, freighting goods using this flight will contribute towards KZN produced goods being more competitive within the Seychelles.

Given that there are already South African retailers with operation on the island nation, suppliers who have been flying their goods out of Johannesburg, now have a direct route, and far more convenient logistics option, which speaks directly to the potential of this route, said the MEC.

Since late 2015 Durban has attracted six new airlines, which together provide onward connections to over 700 destinations around the globe.

The new flight will connect Durban and the Seychelles capital Mah, using an Airbus A320.

Mr Hamish Erskine, CEO, Dube TradePort Corporation said the KZN Route Development Committee had been working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to secure the introduction of new regional and international air services to Durbans King Shaka International Airport.

Strategically presenting data-driven business cases to airlines, we aim to show route planners, from around the world, the potential market that exists within Durban and the rest of KZN. We are always motivated when a new airline takes up our offer and commences a new route into Durban; we had been in talks with Air Seychelles for the last 12 months for them to put on this new non-stop route.

Air Seychelles will provide onward connectivity to key destinations across Europe, the Far East, India and the Middle East, through the hub in Abu Dhabi.

Air Seychelles connection to Mumbai will provide a convenient travel option for KwaZulu-Natal and other neighbouring provinces.

Alan Renaud, General Manager for Aeropolitical, Alliances and Public Affairs said, We are delighted to begin serving the vibrant city of Durban with twice-weekly flights from Seychelles.

Our route network now boasts air connections to one of the most popular cities on South Africas coast, known for its Golden Mile beach and fantastic surfing, and we are confident it will attract strong leisure traffic and business traffic from across our network.

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Air Seychelles begins flights to Durban - North Coast Courier