Seychelles, Cyprus extend areas of cooperation |12 March 2014

Seychelles and Cyprus have signed the agreed minutes of the third protocol economic, scientific, technical and industrial cooperation, detailing the outcome of consultations across various sectors ranging from culture, tourism, finance and disaster risk management.

Foreign Affairs principal secretary Maurice Loustau-Lalanne signed on the part of Seychelles and George Georghiou, the permanent secretary of the Directorate General for European Programmes, Coordination and Development, penned the documents on Cyprus’ behalf.

This is the third such agreement signed by the two countries and Mr Georghiou has thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all staff for their professionalism and competence, adding that his country and Seychelles have long-standing ties and that this relationship should be extended through bilateral co-operations.

Mr Georghious added: “Coming from a country which has long historical and political ties with Seychelles I am glad to be here and build on this already strong relationship. And this agreement will benefit both parties through exchange of expertise.”

For Foreign Affairs PS Loustau-Lalanne the preparatory work has helped to make good progress and he thanked his staff for their work and all the other members of the ministries and governmental departments that have collaborated in allowing him and Mr Georghious to put pen to paper.

“I am extremely gratified that we have managed under your leadership and your understanding to add some new areas of possible future cooperation.

 It shows that our cooperation is dynamic and moves with the time. And to include for the first time areas of finance, business, health, tourism and culture, renewable energy shows a sign of modernity and I want to once again express my appreciation for your understanding. You and I have done our tasks and it now remains for our collaborators to ensure the implementation of these agreed areas of cooperation in the protocol so that when we meet again in one or two years’ time we would have testaments to the fruits of our work,”  said Mr Loustau-Lalanne.

He added that under the signed protocol, the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to sign an agreement with the chamber of commerce of Cyprus; Cyprus will guide Seychelles in having the right photovoltaic and other renewable equipment in place for local consumption; the Ministry of Health will send doctors and nurses on short training in Cyprus; Cypriots will follow internships at the Seychelles Tourism Academy; and a cultural and historical programme will be put in place relating to Archbishop Makarios who was exiled here.