The meeting will be staged from October 19-21 by the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission.

Such a forum is organised every year by L’Union des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie de l’Océan Indien (UCCIOI) to consolidate the partnership between the private, public and commercial sectors of the region.

The forums were initiated in Madagascar in 2005, and an SCCI delegation was there recently – at the Foire Internationale de Madagascar – to promote this year’s event. Members met the press in Tana and had wide coverage on the TV and radio networks.

The SCCI has just completed a tour of Mayotte, Comoros and Reunion for the same reason, giving presentations to the various chambers.

The chambers of commerce of all the UCCIOI member states will continue to promote the forum since it has proven to be one of the most successful tools of regional cooperation.

The themes to be addressed at this year’s forum will be: A new region for economic and commercial integration; Tourism: a label for the Indian Ocean island states; and Myth or reality? sustainable regional co-development.

The SCCI is now inviting businesses in Seychelles to take part in the forum, saying the benefits will include meeting prospective partners, expanding the business to other markets, enhancing product image through the press, finding new products and new suppliers, discovering investment opportunities in other countries, and being part of the economic network of the Indian Ocean.

People wishing to take part are asked to register at the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2nd Floor, Ibrahim Building, by September 30. The registration fee is €150 per delegate.

Registration forms are available at the SCCI office or can be sent by e-mail on request.