Stakeholders from government departments and ministries concerned with industries and entrepreneurship congregated at the Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa last Friday for the first ever stakeholders forum organised by Enterprise Seychelles Agency (ESA).
The aim of the forum was to inform stakeholders of the mandate of ESA, the successor to the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (SEnPA), and to offer stakeholders an opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the agency and its functions.
Following the official opening address by Vice-President Vincent Merition, who holds the portfolio for Industry and Entrepreneurship, in which he emphasised the need to develop industries in Seychelles, chief executive of ESA, Angelic Appoo, facilitated a presentation detailing the functions of ESA.
“ESA’s mandate is broader than that of SEnPA, which was created in 2004 to promote small businesses and to implement policies and strategies of the government in relation to crafts and cottage industries. However, ESA encapsulates more than just cottage industries to include micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as there was a need to establish an agency to support MSMEs,” Ms Appoo stated.
ESA is a public agency established under the Seychelles SME Development Policy and Strategy, approved by the cabinet of ministers in February 2016. Unlike its predecessor SEnPA, ESA is also responsible for the development of entrepreneurship and MSMEs, which constitutes 90 percent of the business community in Seychelles.
Ms Appoo detailed the various challenges that entrepreneurs and business owners are faced with stating that ESA aims to address such issues by providing the foundations for the enhancement of entrepreneurs, to assist enterprises in the early steps of the life cycle and to support the growth of MSMEs.
“The functions of the Agency as provided by Section 5 of the Act stipulates that ESA should advise the minister on pertinent issues affecting MSMEs, operate a registration scheme for all MSMEs and to provide general and specialised Business Development Services to all MSMEs,” Ms Appoo further noted.
Specialised services include identifying challenges to the sustainable development of MSMEs and proposing solutions, providing start-up services to include needs analysis, business and legal advice, and aftercare for continuous improvement as well as assisting entrepreneurs to plan their business for financial viability among numerous other functions.
ESA manages four properties namely, Esplanade, Port Glaud, Artisans Des Iles Shops and Camion Hall, previously under the management of SEnPA.
Asides from the various functions of ESA, stakeholders were also invited to contribute their ideas and concerns pertaining to four discussion points determined by officials from ESA.
In terms of registry and record- keeping, ESA intends to register all MSMEs and to establish its own information management system to allow ESA to make better policy decisions in the interest of entrepreneurs and owners of MSMEs.
The process to establish a registration and record keeping system is already underway through memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreements with the department of Civil Status, the Registrar for the business registration number, Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) for the license number and the Seychelles Revenue Commission which provides businesses with a Tax Identification Number.
The second discussion point, MSME development services, consisted of an overview of the various services offered by ESA at different stages of the business life cycle, from the seed capital grant scheme, MSME business planning assistance, marketing and promotion assistance, legal advice and aftercare.
Moreover, stakeholders voiced their concerns regarding overlapping mandates between ESA and other departments and agencies such as banking institutions, Seychelles Investment Bureau (SIB) and the Guy Morel Institute (TGMI) among others. Building on this point and the feedback from stakeholders present, the final discussion was centered on developing effective synergies between stakeholders to better serve MSMEs in Seychelles.
In particular, it was highlighted that government departments, civil society, the private sector and ESA, must all work collaboratively and with a common vision for MSME growth and advancement.
In wrapping up the event, Ms Appoo stated that the discussions have been fruitful and all contributions will be included in a report to guide actions.
“We at ESA felt it was important to organise the forum to inform all stakeholders of our functions and future plans. Since the re-branding, it seems as though there is some confusion as to what ESA does and what it has on offer. With today’s event, which was a huge success, stakeholders are in a better position to collaborate and coordinate with ESA,” Ms Appoo concluded.
The participants requested that such forums are held annually to allow for continuity and follow-ups.
