Given its strategic location in the South-Eastern Indian Ocean, its political stability and the legal and administrative framework in place, Seychelles is no doubt the ideal investment destination for serious investors. There are a lot of investment opportunities in a wide range of sectors such as tourism, industry, agriculture, fishing and fish processing, oil exploration, infrastructure, IT, telecoms, general services and financial services respectively. However, there are certain restrictions for foreign ownership of investment in Seychelles. Local Ownership in investment In an effort to encourage entrepreneurship and self-employment amongst the citizens of Seychelles, the following small scale commercial activities have been identified as business activities that should remain strictly in the hands of the Seychellois citizens. The other areas represent possible areas of investment for Seychellois citizens in partnership with foreign nationals. Any activities not mentioned under the Strategic, Restricted and Reserved areas of the Investment Code Act 2005 respectively will be fully opened for investment consideration by Seychellois citizens: Reserved Area – 100% Seychellois ownership | 1. Accommodation of up to 10 rooms (excluding luxury villas) 2. Live aboard up to 2 boats 3. Travel Agent 4. Tourist Guide 5. Car Hire Operator 6. Tour Operators 7. Boat Charter 8. Taxi Operator 9. Diving Centres(excl.dive operators) 10. Water Sports 11. Cottage Industry projects 12. Video Shops 13. Internet Reseller 14. Public Exhibition of films 15. Employment Agency 16. Building Contractor other than Class 1 contractor 17. Artisanal Fishing (including Demersal Fishing) 18. Small Enterprises (except where the project introduces or ventures into an area never before invested in or it introduces new technology that has never before been applied in Seychelles then it will fall under the restricted area). |
Foreign Ownership of Investment
Foreign investment will be permitted in the following areas. Any activities not mentioned under the Strategic, Restricted and Reserved areas of the Investment Code Act 2005 respectively, will be fully opened for investment consideration by foreign investors: Strategic Area – Government seeking for Strategic Partner | Restricted Area – 49% foreign ownership | 1. Airport and seaport infrastructure 2. Animal feed factory, hatchery and parent stock | 1. Accommodation of between 11 and 20 rooms 2. Live aboard of between 3 and 5 boats 3. Other Small Enterprises (where the project introduces or ventures into an area never before invested in or it introduces new technology that has never before been applied in Seychelles). |
The investment policy of Seychelles therefore seek to direct foreign investment to the following areas in order to ensure a more long term commitment to Seychelles by the foreign investors: - high value added, capital intensive and knowledge based activities;
- high value added export oriented or high quality import substitution manufacturing activities including fish processing;
- large scale basic agro and food processing industries;
- large tourism based activities of four to five star standards including eco-tourism and health tourism projects.
The investment opportunities section provides detailed information about investment opportunities that exist in different key areas such as tourism, fisheries, agriculture, energy, industries, general services, offshore and financial services and commercial port development in the Seychelles islands. For more information on investment opportunities that exist in Seychelles, please select from the sub-menu items above or below.
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