Construction of SBC’s Seychelles Radio and Broadcasting House |16 August 2017

Financing, construction agreement signed

Seychelles has strengthened bilateral ties with the People’s Republic of China through the signing of an agreement between the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) and the Chinese government for the financing and construction of the Seychelles Radio and Broadcasting House.

The agreement was signed on Monday at the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) headquarters at Hermitage by the broadcasting house’s newly appointed chief executive Bérard Duprès and Ai Yinyang, a representative from the Agency for International Economic Cooperation from China's Ministry of Commerce.

In attendance were the deputy chief executive of SBC Jude Louange, the counsellor from China's embassy in Seychelles Guo Zhenguang, members of SBC's board of directors, personnel from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and legal personnel from the local Department of Foreign Affairs who were overseeing the signing.

After the formalities, Mrs Ai, through an interpreter, said the agreement highlights the increased exchange of culture between Seychelles and China and demarks the strong bilateral relationship that exists between the two countries.

On his side Mr Duprès thanked the Chinese government for taking part in the advancement of the national broadcasting company's vision to bring better services to its public.

Once completed the Seychelles Radio and Broadcasting House will accommodate the administrative, radio and television broadcasting sections of the SBC all under one roof.

The building, which will occupy an area of approximately 5600m², will be located at the ex-Radyo Sesel site at Union Vale.

According to Harry Tirant, a member on the SBC board of directors, the design concepts of the project has already been finalised and each section will have their own building which will be annexed together as one whole building.

The project is estimated to cost about R240 million, however Mr Duprès has affirmed that he cannot state when exactly the project will start.

“We will have to go through different phases and milestones before the project can start. On our part we have two months to clear out the terrain and grounds at Union Vale. The Chinese government also has two months to tender for its construction back in China. When all these are done we will have to come back to the drawing board and sign another agreement with the chosen construction company, so the process itself is quite long,” he explained.

Nevertheless, the Chinese government has said construction should last up to 18 months hence the Seychelles Radio and Broadcasting House is expected to be completed in the next two to three years.

Mr Duprès also stated that he is extremely optimistic for the final end product: “I am sure our employees are also looking forward to moving to a more modern facility, where everything will be provided for.”

The ceremony concluded with an exchange of gifts and tokens from both sides, the particular standout being a scroll painting of a Panda from the Chinese government to SBC. This represents a symbol of peace and friendship between Seychelles and China.

The help SBC is receiving from China dates back to the economic and technical cooperation agreement signed last year by the Seychelles ambassador to China Vivianne Fock Tave and the Chinese Vice-Minister for Commerce Qian Keming.