Senpa and small businesses in 2016 |30 December 2016

A lot has been done and is still being done to promote and encourage small businesses and private sector development in Seychelles. As often stated by various government or other high level officials, the private sector and businesses, big or small, are the motor of our economy and the way forward for a sound economic development.

In this end-of-year review we focus on Senpa (Small Enterprise Promotion Agency) and small businesses highlighting some of their main activities during 2016, especially those which made the headlines in the newspaper.

Small local businesses eye African markets

Small businesses registered under Senpa had the chance to showcase their products and services at the Savoy Resort & and Spa premises at Beau Vallon during the Investment Forum and Exhibition organised in July in tandem with the 23rd annual general meeting of the Afro Import-Export Bank (Afreximbank) which Seychelles was hosting.

It was also an opportune time for them to create business links and relationships as well as explore opportunities; market themselves to potential African markets making use of the presence of the about 500 delegates from both Africa and elsewhere attending the forum and meeting.

Senpa team up with other partners to create skillful entrepreneurs

A three-day course  for the first batch of a total of 500 entrepreneurs of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), supporting capacity building, knowledge and skills on various aspects of entrepreneurship initiatives, was officially opened at the University of Seychelles’ Guy Morel Institute at Ma Joie in August.

The training session, part of the Seychelles’ MSME Development Project, is being supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) through the fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA). It is being conducted by Senpa in collaboration with the University of Seychelles (UniSey) and the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation (MIEDBI). The Seychelles MSME Development Project aims at enhancing the growth of Seychelles MSMEs in order to promote inclusive growth through addressing access to finance and entrepreneurial skills, two main constraints to MSME development in Seychelles. There are seventeen short courses and a training of trainer session where the trainers will be trained to ensure they are capable of taking on the task afterwards.

Local products take centre stage at Enterprise Bazaar

Local entrepreneurs gathered at the Avani Barbarons Resort & Spa in September for the usual Enterprise Bazaar hosted by the hotel.

Organised by the University of Seychelles through the Enterprise Institute, the bazaar also saw the collaboration and support of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (Senpa) and the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship Development & Business Innovation, alongside other agencies responsible for the promotion of small enterprises. The bazaar is aimed at promoting the local entrepreneurs.

Some of the small businesses that made headlines in this newspaper this year:

Giving a new lease of life to your furniture

Elite Soft Furnishings & Upholstery is a small re-upholstery and furnishing business located at the Micro Enterprise Complex at Providence, the newly built building for small businesses registered with Senpa. It mainly refurnishes old and worn out furniture like sofas and chairs for homes, offices, restaurants and hotels. Their furnishings also include curtains, table covers, bed covers, pillow covers and stuffings, etc... The business also does car re-upholstery which involves redoing the roof lining and door panel as well as seat covers, boat cushion covers, curtains, canopy covers.

‘My donuts are different, soft, tasty and attractive’ 

“My donuts are different. They are softer, more tasty, attractive to look at and melt in the mouth. There are different glazings on top like caramel banana, cherry, chocolate, peach, hazel nut and vanilla.” Island Donuts makes its own packaging which consists of two sizes – large and mini with a tag line ‘Do-nut share with friends’. This was how Kevin Marengo, owner of Island Donuts, describes the donuts his business ‘Island Donuts’, produces.

Island Donuts was set up in December 2015 as one of the small businesses in Seychelles. It is located at the Leve Debrouye Macro Enterprise Building at Providence Industrial Estate.  Kevin already has an established clientele all over the island. Clients can also order directly from Island Donuts. The business also caters for meetings, birthdays, parties or any social events that need donuts as snacks. It is his love for Dunkin Donuts that got Kevin into this business.

‘Callinoz’, a relaxed place for great food

‘Callinoz’ is a fast food trailer at the ex-children’s playground offering fast food, salads, wraps and other fun meal. Owned by Colin Rath, ‘Callinoz’ is unique in its set-up and services as it offers a form of relaxation and music to its waiting customers.

“We wanted to create an atmosphere where people feel relaxed and can see and enjoy live preparation of their meals while listening to some nice music … and take work off their minds for this short moment  while enjoying a meal with a difference,” said Callinoz.

The owner and partner said he has always thought this type of business would be a great venture as they have a great love for food. They were doing something totally different before – managing firms and properties.

Julie’s Snacks re-opens its doors at the former Children’s Playground

For those of you who remember Julie’s Snacks at Bodco and at the Islands Development Company (IDC) compounds and could not resist her tasty goodies, the snack shop re-opened its doors at the former Children’ Playground opposite Maison du Peuple.

The snack shop is run by Julie Charlette and she sells very affordable snacks with cakes at R3, sandwich at R10 just to name a few. Julie’s Snacks had to relocate as the people in charge of the former premises needed their location. But this did not deter Julie from getting a new venue as she is a determined woman who wants to be her own boss.

After going through the necessary procedure, Julie re-opened her snack shop at the former playground.

Martha’s Linen, your specialist in household and hospitality linen

Martha’s Linen is a retail outlet situated at Providence specialising in the sales of fine bedroom, bathroom, and table linen, as well as home décor accessories.  The products on offer ranges from bath towels, duvets, pillows, bed sheets, to candles etc.  The bed linens can also be customised according to the clients’ requirements through special orders.  Besides the walk-in customers, Martha’s Linen caters to the hospitality as well as the yachting industry.

Martha’s Linen came about after two sisters, Cindy Salgado and Celine Labrosse, decided to set up such a business.   As for the origin of the shop’s name, the sisters chose it randomly because they thought that it would be an easy name for customers to remember.  It was coincidental that the name came from both sides of the family; it was a way to carry the legacy of both grandmothers who were great role models to the sisters.

To wrap up an eventful year, Senpa held its annual Christmas Fair at the Camion Hall and Freedom Square grounds where again local products were on offer.

Compiled by Marylene Julie