AGP Executive Report

Seychelles Sports: The Seychelles Football Federation’s Championship League and League One are off to a lively start, with Tigers leading the Championship League and Au Cap strong in League One after early rounds. Seychelles Cricket: The Seychelles Cricket Association elected Santosh Pillay as its new chairman at its annual general meeting. Seychelles-China Ties: Seychelles’ Minister for Tourism and Culture, Amanda Bernstein, attended the launch of the 3rd China Film Festival, while the Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan also met Seychelles’ Industry and Enterprise minister and sent off SIT students for EV training in China. Local Health & Safety: Australian tennis coach Tim Horpinitch remains in ICU in a life-threatening condition after a scooter crash in Seychelles. Regional Football Fixtures: COSAFA U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier fixtures were unveiled, with Seychelles drawn in Group A alongside Mozambique, Mauritius and Namibia. Travel Access: Canada expanded eTA eligibility, listing Seychelles among 17 air-travel countries, and also launched a Francophone student pilot naming 33 eligible countries. Environment: A report says warming seas are driving octopus numbers up in British waters, with impacts on local shellfish fisheries.

Parliament & Tourism: Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta led a delegation to Mumbai International Cruise Terminal, touring passenger facilities and discussing maritime infrastructure, cruise tourism links, and the proposed Mumbai Marina Project. Renewables: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) reaffirmed cooperation on solar PV and renewable energy priorities during talks on the margins of the ISA Regional Committee for Africa meeting. Sports (Football): In CAF Champions League first preliminary round (first leg), Wiliete de Benguela beat Foresters FC (Seychelles) 4-0, giving the Angolan side a big advantage. Local Football: Seychelles Football Federation pre-season Premier League continued with Real Maldive and Anse Reunion holding top spots after draws. Basketball: PLS Legends and Beau Vallon Heat took early leads in their best-of-three finals, winning game one. Green Card (DV-2026): A US court ruling reopened a legal path for DV-2026 applicants, with 53,939 prospective applicants registered across 49 African countries. Travel Rules: Thailand will cut visa-free stays for many nationalities from 60 to 30 days from Sept 15, while Seychelles and Mauritius get a separate 15-day tier and land border entries are capped.

CAF Champions League: Seychelles’ Wiliete de Benguela thrashed Foresters FC 4-0 in the first leg, giving the Seychelles side a tough task in the return. Local Football: In the SFF Premier League pre-season tournament, Real Maldive and Anse Reunion kept their group leads after draws on day three, with Real Maldive held 1-1 by Bel Air. Basketball Finals: PLS Legends and Beau Vallon Heat opened their best-of-three finals with Game One wins, with Legends staging a comeback to beat AB Boys 77-68 and Heat edging PLS Hawks 80-65. Energy & Environment: Seychelles and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) agreed to deepen cooperation on solar PV and renewable energy as the country pushes its clean-energy transition. Tourism Policy: Seychelles Tourism Board’s annual marketing meeting points to recovery momentum in July and August, with Russia leading the rebound and new markets like China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey gaining. Government Finance: Cabinet approved VAT amendments to extend a VAT exemption for certain farming, fishing and related activities, plus changes affecting construction services tied to VAT-exempt goods. Sports Development: Grand Anse Mahé young footballers received equipment from their MNA, boosting district training for ages 5-10. International Mobility: St Vincent and the Grenadines ranked 48th globally on passport access, while Thailand announced major visa-free changes that include a 15-day tier for Seychelles from September 15.

Seychelles-China Education Link: Seychelles students from SIT were sent off by Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan for an electric vehicle training programme in Jining, with air tickets presented by Ambassador Lin and Education Minister David Pierre. Football—CAF Champions Path: Foresters FC of Seychelles were beaten 4-0 by Wiliete de Benguela in the first leg of an African Champions League qualifying tie, leaving Seychelles with a tough second-leg task. Football—Angolan Edge in Champions Access: Petro de Luanda edged Songo 1-0 in the first leg of CAF Champions League group-stage access, with the return leg set in Luanda next Saturday. Seychelles Tourism Focus: Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 recovery momentum and pushing market diversification for 2027 after Middle East disruptions. Local Sports Development: Grand Anse Mahé young footballers received equipment from MNA Nelsia Balisa-Lepathy, boosting district training for ages 5 to 10. Regional Football Calendar: SFF unveiled a packed international programme for Seychelles football, with senior and youth teams plus beach soccer set for upcoming regional and continental competitions. Travel Rules—Thailand Update: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days from September 15, while Seychelles travellers get a separate 15-day visa-free tier, with tighter limits on land border entries.

Seychelles–Saudi Ties: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation, including economic and tourism partnerships. Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance after Middle East disruptions and outlining a 2027 shift toward implementing resilience-focused strategies, with Russia leading the rebound and growth also seen in China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Visa Rules for Seychellois Travellers: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days from 15 September, while Seychelles and Mauritius get a separate 15-day visa-free tier; Thailand will also cap visa-exempt land border entries at two per year. Regional Aviation Link: Air Tanzania suspended Dar es Salaam–Moscow flights indefinitely from 4 September citing route risk and passenger safety, with refunds or rescheduling offered. Sports & Community: Seychelles Football Federation unveiled a packed international calendar for senior, youth and beach soccer competitions; meanwhile, young players in Grand Anse Mahé received football equipment from MNA Nelsia Balisa-Lepathy. International Spotlight: A Seychelles-linked diplomatic note also emerged from a Vatican bishops’ formation course running 2–10 September, with participants including a Seychelles representative.

Seychelles Tourism: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance after Middle East disruptions and mapping a 2027 shift from strategy-setting to implementation, with Russia leading the rebound and growth also seen in China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey. Regional Football: COSAFA moved the TotalEnergies CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations/COSAFA Qualifier from Mauritius to Mozambique, with Group B including South Africa, Lesotho and Angola and Group A featuring hosts Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles and Mauritius; dates stay Sept 18–27. Seychelles–China Ties: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss cooperation on cultural heritage protection, archives, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Seychelles–Saudi Cooperation: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting bilateral relations, including economic and tourism partnerships. Visa Rules Affecting Seychelles Travellers: Thailand’s new visa framework cuts visa-free stays for most countries to 30 days from Sept 15, while Seychelles gets a separate 15-day exemption; Thailand also capped land-border visa-exempt entries at twice a year. Tourism by Sea: Seabourn announced a 138-day 2029 world cruise calling at Praslin in Seychelles, with overnight stays in ports including Zanzibar and Cape Town and access to more than 25 UNESCO sites.

Tourism Strategy: Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual marketing meeting at Eden Bleu, reviewing 2026 performance after Middle East disruptions and mapping a 2027 shift from planning to implementation, with arrivals picking up in July and August and Russia leading the rebound while China, South Africa, Nigeria and Turkey show growth. VAT & Policy: Cabinet approved amendments to Seychelles’ VAT Refunds Regulations to extend a VAT exemption for certain construction services linked to VAT-exempt goods imported in disassembled form. Bilateral Ties: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss expanding economic and tourism cooperation. Football & Health: Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) unveiled a packed international programme for the new season, while Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked travel to the DRC. Regional Youth Football: COSAFA moved the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier host from Mauritius to Mozambique, with Seychelles drawn in Group A. Sports Spotlight: Seychelles Cricket Association’s T20 Challenge 2026 wrapped up with GSP 7s winning Division One and Narayan XI taking Division Two. International Sports in Seychelles: Young footballers in Grand Anse Mahé received equipment from MNA Nelsia Balisa-Lepathy, boosting district training for ages 5–10. Global Travel Rules: Thailand announced visa-free stay changes from Sept. 15, with Seychelles set for a 15-day exemption.

Tourism Strategy: The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) held its annual Marketing Meeting at Eden Bleu to review 2026 performance, address disruption fallout from the Middle East, and set a 2027 shift from planning to implementation, with visitor arrivals gaining momentum in July and August and Russia leading the rebound. China–Seychelles Ties: Seychelles’ Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein met Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan to discuss deeper cooperation in cultural heritage protection, archives management, fashion exchange, tourism promotion and skills training. Sports Calendar: The Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) unveiled an intense international programme for the new season, with national teams and beach soccer set for Olympic qualification, COSAFA U-20, CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers and the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Regional Football Update: COSAFA moved the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations/COSAFA qualifier from Mauritius to Mozambique, with Seychelles drawn in Group A alongside Namibia and Mauritius. Ebola Disruption: Seychelles’ Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked the team from travelling to the DRC. Blue Economy & Maritime Links: Seychelles is also exploring aquaculture and fisheries ties with India’s CMFRI, as maritime cooperation and the blue economy remain key themes in regional engagement.

Seychelles-India Diplomacy: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in New Delhi, reaffirming the long friendship and discussing stronger parliamentary cooperation and India’s support for promoting Yoga on the islands. Seychelles-China Tourism & Culture: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to explore deeper ties in cultural heritage protection, archives management, fashion exchanges, tourism promotion and skills training. Regional Football: COSAFA moved the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations/COSAFA qualifier from Mauritius to Mozambique, with Group B including Seychelles alongside South Africa, Lesotho and Angola, running 18–27 September. Seychelles Football Federation Update: The SFF unveiled a packed international programme for the new season, spanning Olympic qualification, COSAFA U-20, CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers and the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival. Public Health Impact on Sport: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked travel from Seychelles to the DRC. Tourism Policy Watch: Thailand announced visa-free changes from 15 September—30 days for most travellers, with Seychelles and Mauritius getting 15 days.

Diplomacy & Tourism: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh to discuss boosting bilateral cooperation, including economic and tourism links. Regional Aviation Safety: Ukraine urged airlines to avoid Russian airspace after drone activity led to airport closures and delays; FlightConnections lists nonstop routes linking Russia with Seychelles and other African states. Visa Rules for Seychellois Travellers: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for many countries from 15 September, while Seychelles (and Mauritius) will get a separate 15-day exemption. Parliamentary Ties: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held talks with Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta, highlighting shared democratic values and support for yoga. Health & Sports Impact: Seychelles football club Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after an Ebola-related public health order blocked travel to the DRC. Economy & Social Investment: Seychelles plans a new fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with independent governance to protect public resources. Culture & Community: A Seychelles reggae fan, Mervin Henriette, shares how the music has taken him from local stages to international festivals. Sports Round-Up: Seychelles Cricket Association T20 Challenge 2026 grand finals delivered tight finishes, with GSP 7s and Narayan XI taking titles.

AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor: Seychelles is set to host the AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor after the AfCFTA Secretariat and Quest Ghana signed a US$5.17B deal in Accra, with the project’s HQ in Victoria and a plan to build a digital marketplace, interoperable payments and an African minerals/commodities exchange. Tourism Diplomacy: Chinese Ambassador Lin Nan met Seychelles Tourism and Culture Minister Amanda Bernstein to discuss deeper cooperation on cultural heritage protection, archives, fashion exchanges, tourism promotion and skills training. Sports—Youth Football: COSAFA’s Under-20 qualifier host changed from Mauritius to Mozambique, with the tournament still running Sept 18–27; Seychelles are in Group A alongside Mozambique, Namibia and Mauritius. Football—Ebola Disruption: Pointe Larue Bazar Brothers’ CAF debut was postponed after a public health order blocked travel amid the Ebola (Bundibugyo) outbreak in the DRC. Cricket: Seychelles Cricket Association T20 Challenge 2026 grand finals delivered a tight Division One finish (GSP 7s over SL United) and a dominant Division Two win (Narayan XI). Local Governance—Social Fund: Finance Minister Pierre Laporte says Seychelles plans a new fund focused on health, education and infrastructure, with independent management to protect public resources. Culture—Reggae Fan: Entertainment features Seychellois reggae devotee Mervin Henriette, whose passion has taken him to major international festivals.

Seychelles-India ties: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles National Assembly Speaker Azarel Ernesta in Delhi, praising shared democratic values and centuries-old civilisational links, and highlighting India’s support for popularising Yoga in Seychelles. Seychelles residence rules: The government set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered, including having family or domestic ties to Seychelles and making (or planning) a contribution to life in the islands. Seychelles development fund: Finance Minister Pierre Laporte says a new fund will target health, education and infrastructure, with independent governance to protect public resources. AfCFTA digital trade push: AfCFTA signed an agreement with QUEST Ghana to host and run an AfCFTA Digital Trade Corridor in Seychelles, starting with a pilot of several countries. Tourism and visas regionally: Thailand will cut visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for most travellers from 15 September, while Seychelles and Mauritius get 15 days. Wildlife news: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia received four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, the first time the species has been housed there. Cruise spotlight: Seabourn opened bookings for a 138-day 2029 world cruise that includes Praslin in Seychelles.

Seychelles Residence Rules: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet before a residence permit is considered: they must not be a prohibited immigrant, they need family or domestic ties to Seychelles, and they must show a contribution they’ve made or plan to make to life in the islands. India–Seychelles Ties: India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Seychelles’ National Assembly Speaker Azarel Yolanda Ernesta, praising the long-running friendship and marking 50 years of independence and diplomatic relations. Russia–Seychelles Diplomacy: Russia’s new ambassador to Seychelles, Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev, said his top priority is maintaining the momentum in bilateral cooperation across tourism, culture, trade, sport, research and healthcare. Tourism & Travel: Thailand’s visa-free policy is changing from 15 September, cutting stays for Seychelles and Mauritius to 15 days (and most other eligible countries to 30 days). Wildlife & Conservation: Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia has welcomed four Aldabra giant tortoises from Japan, the first time the species has been housed there. Sports: Seychelles’ Foresters FC is set to face Angola’s Wiliete de Benguela in a CAF Champions League preliminary match on 10 September, with Malawian referee David Chinoko appointed to officiate.

CAF Football Appointments: Seychelles’ Foresters FC will face Angola’s Wiliete de Benguela on 10 September with David Chinoko as centre referee, while another CAF Interclub tie in the region also features Malawian officials including Easter Bright Kalikokha Zimba. Immigration & Residency: Seychelles has set out three conditions foreigners must meet for a residence permit, including not being a prohibited immigrant, having family or domestic ties to the islands, and showing a contribution they have made or plan to make to life in Seychelles. Blue Economy & Research: A Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visited India’s CMFRI in Kochi to discuss fisheries research, sustainable management and mariculture, building on an MoU for cooperation in agriculture and fisheries. Tourism Demand: Seychelles is seeing growing interest from GCC families and multi-generational travellers, with resorts highlighting longer stays and family-friendly facilities. International Diplomacy: In an interview, Russia’s new ambassador to Seychelles said 2026 marked 50 years of diplomatic ties and outlined priorities including culture, language promotion and deeper bilateral cooperation.

Residence Permits: Seychelles says foreigners must meet three conditions before a residence permit is considered: they must not be a prohibited immigrant, they need family or domestic ties to the islands, and they must show a contribution they’ve made or plan to make to life in Seychelles. Tourism & Travel Rules: Thailand has published new Royal Gazette regulations cutting visa-free stays for 60 countries from 60 days to 30 days from Sept. 15; Mauritius and Seychelles get 15 days, and visa-on-arrival is reduced to just three nationalities. Blue Economy & Fisheries: A Seychelles delegation led by Wallace Cosgrow visited India’s CMFRI in Kochi to discuss fisheries research, sustainable management and mariculture, building on MoUs for cooperation in agriculture and fisheries. Sports: Seychelles will face Malawi in Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers, with other pairings including Tanzania vs Mozambique and Ghana vs Nigeria. Environment: Reports warn the Indian Ocean is under mounting stress, with marine heatwaves and El Niño expected to intensify, putting reefs and coastal livelihoods at risk.

Tourism & Families: Seychelles is pitching itself beyond honeymoons, with GCC visitors and multi-generational families increasingly drawn by visa-free access, connectivity and personalised stays, including residence-style options at Canopy by Hilton Seychelles. New Brand Spotlight: Niva Hotels & Resorts, a Maldivian-owned Versa Hospitality brand, is positioning itself around “Free to Be” experiences across distinctive Indian Ocean destinations. Climate & Health Warning: Experts say air conditioning saves lives during heatwaves, but its growing use also worsens global warming and strains power grids. Blue Economy & Research: Seychelles is exploring deeper fisheries and aquaculture cooperation with India, including a Seychelles delegation’s visit to India’s CMFRI to build a shared research agenda. Sports: The CAF Beach Soccer qualifiers draw sets Seychelles against Malawi, with Ghana and Nigeria also paired. Local Interest: Seychelles’ Aride conservation story highlights how protection helped restore seabird breeding after decades of exploitation. Business/Finance: Zoomex wrapped up its “Trade the Tide” side event at Coinfest Asia 2026 in Bali, aiming to boost SEA market adoption. Justice: South Africa’s Tembisa Hospital alleged looting suspect Stefan Govindraju was granted R200,000 bail after returning from Seychelles.