Seychelles explores increased business links with Asean countries |12 March 2012

Mr Barito, also Seychelles’ honorary consul to Indonesia, attended the forum and highlighted key objectives for Seychelles including responsible fisheries, coherence of coastal societies, combating piracy, eco-marine tourism and Seychelles international offshore investment initiatives and how it may facilitate the Asean connectivity aims.

During the meeting, Seychelles also expressed an interest in developing ties with Asean and beyond to Africa and neighboring small island developing states in the Indian Ocean as part of the organisation’s connectivity objectives.

During their discussions, both Dr Pitsuwan and Mr Barito underlined the significant values for Asean to expand dialogue with counterparts from Africa, and discussed the possibility of co-hosting an Asean centre in Seychelles to facilitate and accelerate the collaboration between Asean member countries and its businesses with counterparts from Africa.

Other possible areas of collaboration to be explored include tourism, through service delivery, creative industries and other hospitality related sectors.