Seychelles looks to balance openness with responsibility
Anne Rosette, CEO of the Seychelles Investment Board, spoke with Real FDI editor Courtney Fingar about the country’s priorities, the realities of resilience for a small island economy, and where she sees the strongest opportunities ahead.
We’re more than halfway through 2025. What have been the highlights of the year so far, and what have been your main priorities at the Investment Board?
We’ve seen a shift in FDI this year. The big-ticket numbers of 2024 are not being repeated, but that’s not a negative trend. It reflects our decision to target sustainable, high-impact investments aligned with the National Development Strategy, rather than chasing volume for its own sake. These projects make better sense for the country – they add value, deliver long-term community benefits, and advance our sustainability goals.
One area of success is the public–private partnerships the government has launched. We’re seeing strong Seychellois participation alongside international investors, which shows growing inclusivity and resilience in our economy.
Resilience is particularly important with global volatility and small island states’ exposure. How is Seychelles coping?
Our constraints are real: we have limited land, limited fiscal space, and a small population. Being classified as a high-income country by GDP per capita also masks our vulnerabilities and restricts access to concessional finance. The country remains in an IMF programme, balancing debt levels with the need for public investment.
External shocks, from regional conflicts to climate-related events, can have immediate impacts. Tourism, our leading sector, is especially sensitive, as we saw during Covid-19. To respond, we are diversifying the economy, channelling investment into value-adding sectors, and strengthening collaboration between local entrepreneurs and international financiers. That’s the route to real resilience.
Beyond tourism, which sectors offer the greatest upside for growth?
Since we launched our SDG Map in 2023, we’ve seen strong investor interest in renewable energy and waste management. Projects such as tyre recycling, solar and wave energy development support our sustainability agenda and our long-term resilience.
We are also experiencing momentum in ICT and digital infrastructure. In 2024 and 2025, investment in this space has grown significantly, in line with government priorities to accelerate digitalisation and innovation.
Seychelles also positions itself as an international financial centre. How is that evolving?
We have a strong reputation as a reliable, competitive financial services jurisdiction, but we must continuously adapt. The Financial Services Authority is aligning regulations with international standards to improve compliance and transparency, while also expanding the range of services we offer – beyond company registrations into areas such as investment funds, securities, insurance, and virtual assets.
The aim is to balance openness with responsibility. We want to attract participants who will contribute to a sustainable, stable ecosystem. Regulatory innovation is part of that process, ensuring that growth in the sector is robust and futureproof.
Many of our readers invest in real estate, infrastructure, hospitality and tourism. What opportunities exist there?
There has been important movement in this space. This year, the government amended land-acquisition regulations, allowing foreigners to purchase property valued above 10 million rupees and up to 2,000 sq m. This is a significant change that should stimulate high-end real estate investment, particularly in luxury residential developments.
We’re also building a stronger offering in sports and events tourism. Hosting the FIFA Beach Soccer tournament, for example, reflects our strategy of broadening the tourism base. The government is investing in infrastructure to support this, from accommodation to venues, with a focus on ensuring that communities share in the returns.
Everything we do comes back to sustainability. We want investment that creates value for today while preserving our natural assets for future generations. That will make Seychelles a long-term magnet for high-quality investment.
