President talks of need for partnership in training |14 September 2007

The President said this while officially opening an extraordinary meeting of the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) Forum which took place on Wednesday at the International Conference Centre.

The CEO Forum brings together principal secretaries from government ministries and departments as well as managing directors of parastatal organizations.

In an interview which he gave to journalists after opening the meeting, President Michel elaborated on the need for government-private sector partnerships in training.

Noting that the government is increasingly taking on the role of facilitator and empowering the private sector to become the wealth creator, President Michel said that all the young people who are being trained today will in future be taking up key positions in both government and the private sector, hence the need for private companies and government to come together to develop training programmes for these young people.

Giving the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) as an example of government-private sector partnership in training in the hospitality area, President James Michel said that this could be extended to the field of fisheries and other maritime related activities.  

Noting the construction soon of a new Maritime Training Centre, President Michel urged the private sector to pitch in in the development of training programmes for students who will be attending the institution.

“We need to be thinking long term.  We need to be thinking about how to upgrade our entire workforce, at all levels - and that means both Government and private sector,” the President had said earlier in his speech while addressing the CEOs.

Also attending the opening ceremony on Wednesday were Vice-President Joseph Belmont, chairpersons of various Boards of Directors of parastatal and statutory agencies, as well as representative of the private sector.

Speaking about the country’s project to launch a university in Seychelles, President Michel said this is based on the premise that Seychelles has to compete on the quality of its workforce. 

“It is through training that we will empower people to be able to take on key management positions, not only in Seychelles based companies but in companies that are developing global or regional brands.  We also need to continually emphasize life-long learning - a process which the University of Seychelles will facilitate,” President Michel said in his speech.

Noting that the country has to promote training as much as possible, President Michel said that the Young Leadership scheme that he announced in his National Day address this year also aims to further promote a culture of excellence.

“Again, the private sector has a key role to play as we want the very best of our local talent to be heading our areas of economic strength and also in driving new areas of economic development,” President Michel said.

The President also called on all CEOs to take a lead role in nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. 
“We should all consider ourselves mentors to the leaders of tomorrow.  We can only be as successful as the people we groom to replace us.  It is imperative that we do this to realize Vision 2017,” President Michel told the CEOs.

On the question of empowerment, the President said: “Let us ensure that we empower our people - at all levels - so that we are able to move with the times, so that we are able to make maximum use of the myriad of opportunities that are present locally and internationally.

“Empowerment is key.  I am speaking both of economic and social empowerment.  As the proverb goes: ‘If you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he will feed himself for a lifetime’”.

“We are a proud nation.  We are proud to be able to fend for ourselves and our families.  Let us strive to ensure that all our people have the tools to make this possible.  AS CEOs it is our responsibility to work towards this end,” the President added.