James Michel Foundation to promote Blue Economy concept |07 February 2017

The James Michel Foundation was registered on Monday February 6, 2017 as a non-profit-making organisation in Seychelles,

and its website has been launched: www.jamesmichelfoundation.org. 

The James Michel Foundation is guided by a commitment to promote the Blue Economy concept, both in its national and international aspects, to sensitise people about climate change and its impacts on Seychelles and the world, to promote environmental protection and sustainable development and defend and promote the cause of small island developing states (Sids). 

After James Michel took his retirement from office of President of the Republic of Seychelles in October 2016, he decided to dedicate his time to the Foundation, as well as create new programmes to reinforce his presidential legacy and his passion for the Blue Economy. 

 “In my time as president, I have gained valuable experience of these issues and I enjoy access to a wide network of international contacts. I have been consistent in pressing the case for responsible policies on a global scale and I have gained the trust of numerous world leaders. Seychelles is a small nation but our mature response to the great challenge of promoting the Blue Economy, adapting and reducing the impact of climate change, and achieving the United Nation’s goals for sustainable development, is highly regarded. Under my past leadership, we have won the support of our own citizens and the international community alike,” said Mr Michel.

“The Foundation that I have created will enable me to channel my efforts and aspirations for the good of all. I am eager to continue to work with young people, who are our future leaders. I am fascinated by the ingenuity of scientists and policy-makers who are responding to the great challenges we face with boundless skills and imagination. And I am enthusiastic to do all that I can in any role to advance the prospects of humanity,” he added.

President Michel is the executive chairman of the Foundation. 

The executive committee members are as follows: 

Vice-chairman

Professor Dennis Hardy, vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles

Treasurer

Jacquelin Dugasse, former government minister and chartered accountant

Secretary

Srdjana Janosevic, media adviser

Members 

Joseph Albert – chairman of Creole Travel Services Group

Paul Morin- chairman of the Morin Group

David Savy – former chairman and chief executive of Air Seychelles and business consultant

Doreen Monthy – former personal assistant to President Michel

Ameer Ebrahim - marine conservationist and doctoral candidate in Marine Ecology at the University of Queensland, Australia.

Maxim Behar- chairman of M3 Communications Group and president of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation 

Alejandro Anganuzzi - global tuna project coordinator, Common Oceans Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and former executive secretary of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission.

The mission of the Foundation is to:

• encourage and sensitise the people of Seychelles to partake in the promotion of the Blue Economy concept, both in its national and international aspects, especially through the use of a pro-active “blue diplomacy” as a means to further entrench the said concept in respect of the world development agenda;
• maintain and safeguard the environment for the present and future generations and to make the protection of our environment and the sustainable development concept a central tenet of all its activities and operations;
• actively promote awareness of climate change and its concomitant effects (sea-level rise, erosion, loss of biodiversity) with a view to sensitising the people from all cross-sections of the society of the threat they pose to Seychelles and the world, and the necessity of taking remedial action to reverse it;
• maintain Seychelles leadership role in all matters pertaining to the environment;
• promote research and development in the field of the Blue Economy;
• provide scholarships and training programmes for the young people of Seychelles with a proven aptitude for the Blue Economy;
• promote maritime security and food security from sustainable marine resources;
• promote energy efficiency and renewable energy; and
• provide seed-financing to young innovative entrepreneurs in sectors relating to the Blue Economy, through its “incubator programme”.