UniSey Enterprise Centre for a new generation of entrepreneurs |17 August 2016

The University of Seychelles has officially launched the ‘UniSey Enterprise Centre, which is aimed at strengthening the culture of entrepreneurship in the country and creating a new generation of entrepreneurs with the capacity to really make things happen.

The launch ceremony took place last Friday at the University of Seychelles (UniSey) Guy Morel Institute, Ma Joie where the centre will be based.

In line with achieving that objective, the university also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), with the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation (MIEDBI) and the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency, Senpa, the key players in this venture.

Present were the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation Michael Benstrong and his principal secretary Marise Berlouis; Senpa’s chief executive Penny Belmont; vice-chancellor of the UniSey Professor Dennis Hardy; Registrar of the UniSey Michel Denousse; dean of the Guy Morel Institute Shella Mohideen and other dignitaries and representatives of the public and private sectors.

The setting up of the enterprise is in line with UniSey’s strategic plan 2014-2016. Its vision is to be the national leader in entrepreneurship development. As principles it will reflect the essential values of Seychelles and will support the principle of sustainable development and will work closely with businesses and government departments to achieve across-the-board progress, while strategic partnerships will be an important means to create synergies and encourage close cooperation.

In his remarks, Minister Benstrong noted that the government of Seychelles received a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) in the last quarter of 2014 to develop the country’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as part of the development policy and strategic programme. His ministry has designed a new strategy and policy divided in five components.

An important part of this review was to define what constitutes micro, small, medium enterprise in the context of Seychelles. They came up with a new definition of SMEs and there are approximately 6,500 SMEs currently operating in various business landscapes of Seychelles.

“After the initial study by the AfDB and the consultant implicated, there is a need to improve and strengthen the capacity of doing business by Seychellois entrepreneurs. This is very important for my ministry to ensure that our entrepreneurs and business owners receive more training in order to help them grow to their full potential,” said the minister.

He added the Guy Morel Institute was identified as the ideal partner to help in that training. And according to the terms of the project, the government of Seychelles is required to train some 500 current and future entrepreneurs.

Professor Hardy described the event as an important step forward in creating new partnership in one of the nation’s top priorities.

He said there has been more talk than action and this is what UniSey wants to change. He described enterprise as modern invention.

“The great challenge lies ahead but also promises a great reward. I think the Seychelles has progressive policies that are second to none, putting into place the kind of development that is fair and sustainable. But now is the time to take many of these policies forward to make things happen,” the vice-chancellor said, adding that the opportunities are immense.

“Enterprise is about finding these opportunities and seizing these opportunities,” he said.

Marie Celine Zialor, who will run the centre at the Guy Morel Institute, made a presentation on what the UniSey Enterprise Centre is all about.

Seychelles NATION will publish a more detailed article on the UniSey Enterprise Centre in a future issue.