Monthly Archives: April 2017

National carrier Kenya Airways has secured unlimited frequency of flights to Seychelles, boosting the airlines turnaround strategy.

KQ has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Seychelles Tourism Board, which will allow the national carrier increase its weekly flights to five from the current four.

Seychelles Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marines minister Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said Kenya Airways is, however, free to increase its flights to any number depending on its capacity.

"Kenya Airways is not restricted it can go even to seven or more. This is an open agreement," Lalanne said during the signing of the deal at the Ministry of Transport.

The agreement is expected to promote tourism and boost intra-Africa trade, officials said.

The agreement is also anchored on aspiration to strengthen the airline presence in Seychelles. Increased frequency will increase KQ's revenues, a boost to its ongoing recovery strategy as it strives to return to profitability.

"This partnership will also underscore the important role that Kenya Airways plays in the African economy development, specifically creating vital linkages between the continent and the international market on which tourism and other key sectors depend on and thrive, " Kenya Airways outgoing chief executive Mbuvi Ngunze said.

Lalanne challenged KQ to ensure it has cargo capacity to handle exports and imports between the two countries, which could be boosted by the renewed bilateral trade agreements.

Seychelles targets to export hundreds of tonnes of fish to Kenya, while it will seek to import flowers, vegetables and meat products, which they presently import from New Zealand, Australia and Brazil.

Transport CS James Macharia affirmed the government's commitment to support Kenya Airways recovery strategy.

He said the government is also keen to secure more bilateral agreements.

Visit link:

KQ clinches open-sky deal with Seychelles - The Star, Kenya

April 4, 2017

End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMFs Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF's Executive Board for discussion and decision.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Mr. Wendell Samuel visited Victoria from March 22April 4 to conduct discussions on the 2017 Article IV consultation and the sixth review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) [1] Arrangement with Seychelles.

At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Samuel issued the following statement:

Macroeconomic performance continued to be strong in 2016. Economic growth reached 4.5 percent, reflecting increased tourist arrivals, stronger output in the fishing industry, and expanding credit to the private sector. Helped by low commodity prices and a stable exchange rate, inflation (year-on-year) was negative throughout 2016. The external current account deficit remained largely unchanged, while net international reserves exceeded the program target by US$14 million. Supported by lower than budgeted capital outlays and strong tax revenue growth, the 2016 primary fiscal surplus reached 3.4 percent of GDP, comfortably exceeding the program target. The end-2016 reserve money ceiling was missed by a very narrow margin, due to stronger-than-expected growth in foreign currency deposits.

With continued foreign investments and rising arrivals in the tourism sector, the growth outlook for 2017 remains positive. The rising trend in international fuel prices since late 2016, along with fiscal measures in the 2017 budget, could put pressure on inflation and on the balance of payments. International reserves are expected to remain at an adequate level, anchored by strong macroeconomic policies. Downside risks to the outlook stem largely from the external sector.

In view of the fact that the 2017 budget is supported mainly by one-off revenue measures, the mission discussed permanent fiscal measures in 2018 that would help secure the medium-term debt reduction target. It stressed that inability to contain fiscal spending pressures could undermine governments efforts to sustain strong fiscal primary surpluses and jeopardize medium-term public debt reduction goals. The team concurred with the authorities about the need to address structural weaknesses and promote inclusive growth, including through further diversification in the context of the Blue Economy initiatives, improving the business climate, and strengthening the state-owned enterprise sector. The central bank should continue to maintain a flexible exchange rate while limiting foreign exchange interventions to the extent needed to avoid excess volatility and preserve reserve coverage at an adequate level. At the same time, the bank is called upon to remain vigilant to inflationary pressure stemming from rising international commodity prices and fiscal measures in the 2017 budget.

As a small archipelagic country, Seychelles is becoming increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters and to climate change. Over the long run, the economic costs of such events could be large and unpredictable. To better address these challenges, the authorities jointly with international partners need to pursue a medium-term strategy that would create additional fiscal space to undertake the necessary climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. In addition, climate change should be integrated into public financial management and options for risk sharing need to be carefully explored.

Subject to the approval of IMF Management, the IMF Executive Board is expected to discuss the completion of the review and the Article IV consultation in June 2017. The mission appreciates the high quality of the discussions and thanks the authorities for their hospitality, as well as the open and constructive dialogue.

The team met with His Excellency President Danny Faure, Minister of Finance, Trade, and Planning Peter Larose, and Governor of the CBS Caroline Abel, as well as other government officials, members of the National Assembly, and representatives of the private sector and civil society.

[1] The Extended Fund Facility under the Extended Arrangement is an instrument of the IMF designed for countries facing medium-term balance of payments problems because of structural weaknesses that require time to address. Assistance under the Extended Fund Facility features longer program engagementto help countries implement medium-term structural reformsand a longer repayment period. (See http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/eff.htm ). Details on Seychelles Extended Arrangement are available at http://www.imf.org/seychelles .

PRESS OFFICER: Andrew Kanyegirire

Phone:+1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

Go here to see the original:

IMF Staff Completes Visit to Seychelles - International Monetary Fund

Israeli lawmaker Ksenia Svetlova married her fianc this week in the Seychelles, and took the opportunity to criticize the Chief Rabbinates monopoly on marriage in Israel.

The Zionist Union member of Knesset, who has been an active parliamentary proponent for civil marriage in Israel, said dryly that the only one absent from their ceremony on the Indian Ocean island was the Orthodox rabbinate, which has a monopoly on marriage in the State of Israel.

We both felt that this entity has nothing to do with our Judaism, and we were not ready to be forced on the happiest day of our lives to play according to the rules of a game that is alien to us, Svetlova wrote Monday on her Facebook page.

Israeli marriages are performed under laws inherited from Ottoman times. Citizens may only marry through their religious institutions: Jewish couples must marry through the Chief Rabbinate, and Christians, Druze and Muslims all marry through their own state-sanctioned and publicly funded religious systems.

Among Jews, only Orthodox ceremonies are recognized. This also impacts interfaith and same-sex marriages. Those who wish to marry or divorce outside the faith are forced to travel overseas for a civil ceremony, with nearby Cyprus one of the most popular options.

A poll released last month showed that 72 percent of Jewish Israelis support civil marriage and 76% of Arab Israelis favor marriage freedom in Israel, where citizens cannot legally marry outside their faith.

No one has ownership of Judaism, wrote Svetlova, and it is inconceivable that in a Jewish state one obsessive body will have an absolute monopoly on our lives!

She said she hoped Israeli couples would be able to marry however they like in the future, and wouldnt be forced to wed outside the country if they chose to do so in a non-Orthodox fashion.

I will continue to work for this purpose at the Knesset, she promised, once I get back from my honeymoon.

View original post here:

MK weds in Seychelles, slams lack of civil marriage in Israel - The Times of Israel

Photo: Seychelles President Danny Faure (left) with Deputy President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi yesterday. Photo/AYUB MUIYURO

An agreement between the Kenyan and Sychelles governments has opened more job opportunities for Kenyan teachers in the Indian Ocean island nation.

Horticulture, poultry, meat and dairy farmers will also benefit from Seychelles markets, following talks between visiting President Danny Faure with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi yesterday.

Addressing a joint press conference, the two leaders also agreed to partner in other areas of development, including trade and security and the development of the blue economy. They also agreed to increase flights and cargo between the two countries.

Uhuru said his government and that of Seychelles are working on modalities on how Kenyan teachers will start offering services in Seychellois schools.

Also read: Families of 5 victims of Kakamega lightning tragedy in mourning

Just like Rwanda, Namibia and now Liberia we are hoping to conclude agreements on how our teachers will be exported to Seychelles, the President said.

On security, terrorism, piracy and the war against drugs, Uhuru said the two governments had agreed to share intelligence and ideas. He said Kenyas campaign against drug trafficking had benefitted a lot from the support of the Seychelles government.

President Faure, who is on three-day State visit, said Seychelles is interested in benefiting from Kenyas human capital especially in the education sector. His country, he said, had a lot of confidence in the quality of Kenyan teachers since a group of teachers was sent to Seychelles in 1998.

Also read: KNH doctors successfully remove knife from Wajir woman's cheek

Faure, who is visiting Kenya for the first time since he became President in October last year, said his country is ready to work with Kenya to develop its blue economy and to improve the security of its Exclusive Economic Zone.

Apart from education, we need to have more technical agreements to also tap on other areas of expertise which we can benefit from, he said. He assured Uhuru that Seychelles will support Kenya, including with consultancy services, on how to explore the fishing sector.

Read more from the original source:

Seychelles opens doors for Kenyan teachers, farmers - K24 TV