Vice-President Danny Faure has repeated the call for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to benefit from infrastructure development as part of regional programmes.
 

He was speaking at the 14th heads of state summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), which closed in Swaziland on Wednesday.

In his address to the summit, Mr Faure echoed the call made by President James Michel during the recent PTA Bank annual general meeting held in Seychelles that “the realities of the global economy mean that small islands and small landlocked countries are repeatedly the first to feel the shocks of any global pressures.

“We see regional approaches as a means of reducing these vulnerabilities. But smaller countries also benefit less from infrastructural development.”

Mr Faure, who has been representing the President at the summit, reaffirmed the development responsibility of all Comesa member states by adding: “It is our duty, as members of Comesa, to ensure that we can turn globalisation from a challenge into an opportunity. 

“It is our duty to ensure that all member states, large or small, can turn to our region, to Comesa, as the first line of support.”

During the summit, he also expressed Seychelles’ support for the tripartite process, whereby the regional grouping of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Comesa and the East African Community will create an enlarged free trade area that will, in effect, be one of the largest free-trading blocks in the world.

On the question of help for the island states of Comesa, the Seychelles delegation called for the region’s port infrastructure to be developed, regional shipping links to be improved, a regional shipping line to be set up and a maritime trade corridor to be opened to complement the land-based corridors that allow goods to flow easily from one state to another.

The summit also reviewed the progress of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations with the European Union, and Mr Faure stressed the importance of being able to finish the process as quickly as possible so as to allow trade to continue with predictable rules and procedures.  

The summit was conducted under the theme Harnessing Science and Technology for Development, and the Comesa members outlined plans to accelerate the region’s development through adoption and mainstreaming of advanced technological processes and innovative approaches. 

Member states were also urged to create science and technology committees and advisory offices.

In a similar vein, President Michel created the Seychelles Innovation Council last year to ensure the country is well placed to benefit from advances in science and technology and also to enhance home-grown innovative practices.

In relation to the theme of the summit, Mr Faure said: “This theme brings us together in our quest to accelerate development for our region and our continent. It reminds us that we have the ability to achieve great things when we work together as one.”

The summit also considered the subject of climate change and urged funding agencies to honour their promises to allocate mitigation funds to developing countries that are the worst affected by the problem.
Seychelles was honoured at the summit by being asked to deliver the vote of thanks on behalf of the heads of state and government in attendance.

In his message, Mr Faure hailed the energy and enthusiasm of the Swazi people and noted that these features are also one of the hallmarks of Comesa. 

Seychelles’ delegation at the summit also included Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Paul Adam, principal secretary in the Vice President’s Office Jeanne Simeon and Seychelles’ ambassador to Comesa Joseph Nourrice.

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