The latest sign of this is that Central Bank governor Pierre Laporte has been invited by the International Monetary Fund’s western hemisphere department to share Seychelles’ experience at a conference to be held in Barbados from tomorrow until Thursday.

The conference will discuss challenges facing the Caribbean region, in particular the issues of low growth and oppressive levels of debt.

According to the conference organisers, Seychelles makes “an interesting case study from which the region could draw a lot of lessons”.

They added: “The determination of its political leadership to face the country’s problems head-on; its commitment to an adjustment programme that liberalised markets, raised revenue and prioritised spending; and its good-faith effort to restructure its debt obligation and seek debt relief from creditors are all very positive examples of what can be done by small island economies, and in some sense a beacon of hope for otherwise resigned policymakers.”

During the conference Mr Laporte will give a presentation about Seychelles’ experience
and take part in the debate. The conference will also be a chance for him to meet other academics and senior officials from the Caribbean region.