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Archive -Fishing and Agriculture

New infrastructure to cater for growing needs of fishing industry |02 July 2018

The Ile du Port Handling Services (IPHS) Port is another milestone in the marine infrastructure development of our islands, a very valuable asset which should propel the fishing industry further to greater success for the country.

Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Didier Dogley made the statement on Saturday at the official opening of the new IPHS port, which is on Ile du Port.

The ceremony also featured the laying of the foundation stone for the Central Common Cold Store (CCCS), a 12,600 metric-tonne capacity cold storage facility which will provide an innovative solution to improve fishing and fish processing companies’ logistic in port, leading to an increase in revenue and cost saving.

The IPHS was mandated to construct and manage the 425 metre-long quay, undertake stevedoring operations and other related activities on the quay and transfer it to the government after recovery of the construction and financing cost, which came at a cost of US $18 million.

President Danny Faure, along with secretary general of the Commonwealth Patricia Scotland, cabinet ministers, members of the National Assembly, officials of the Société Seychelloise D’Investissement (SSI) and shareholders were among the guests at Saturday’s launch.

Minister Dogley said since the commissioning of part of the IPHS quay in January 2016, the situation has improved significantly.

He noted that the government is fully committed to developing the blue economy, but since the cost of investment in port infrastructure is very high, it is clear that the government cannot do it alone.

“It is our wish that the local businesses will see this as opportunities for start-ups, expansion and even growth, capturing new markets through value-added products,” he added.

Minister Dogley also said that, as an environmentalist, he cannot stress enough on the need for these developments to be well planned and executed in line with environmental standards and thereby ensure the health of our marine spaces and associated biodiversity.

Addressing the guests, the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Charles Bastienne said we can have the best port built, but if we do not fish sustainably, sooner or later the stock of fish will deteriorate and slowly there will not be foreign vessels wanting to fish in our waters.

He added that government will soon make fundamental changes to agreements it enters into and licenses it issues to operators in our waters in order to ensure that local investors into the sector benefit to the maximum.

In his address, investor Jacques De Chateauvieux, the chairman of the JACCAR Holdings and SAPMER, said they are proud to be a long standing partner in the sustainable development of industrial fishing in Seychelles and compliment the government for its support in these two meaningful infrastructure development projects, where Seychellois have been offered a majority holding.

Mr De Chateauvieux also added that the two unique national infrastructure symbolise the Seychelles government and private sector’s commitment and support towards further development of industrial fishing, a key element of the blue economy strategy of Seychelles.

President Danny Faure, along with guests and investors, the cut the ribbon to officially open the quay, before priests David Alcindor and Brian Volcère blessed the new infrastructure.

The 425 metre-long quay is a public private partnership infrastructure purposefully built and equipped with modern machinery and equipment.

 

 

 

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