September 16, 2010 -- President James Michel has met with the President and Vice-Presidents, and Members of the Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain.
The President was accompanied by Minister for Home Affairs, Environment and Transport Mr. Joel Morgan, the Secretary of State Mr. Barry Faure, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Tourism Board Mr Alain St Ange, the Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr. V. Ramadoss, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association Ms. Jenifer Sinon.

President Michel spoke to the members of the Confederation about the potential for Seychelles to become a business hub for Africa.
"This meeting will deepen our relations with the private sector in Spain, and I am impressed with the level of interest there is in Spain, to work together to develop new business ventures in Seychelles."

Discussions centred on opportunities for investment in fisheries, tourism, renewable energy, electricity, water, infrastructure, I.T., manufacturing and food projects in Seychelles.
"I want Seychelles to become one of the easiest countries to do business in the region. Furthermore we put an emphasis on the protection of the environment in all business that we do, as 47% of our land territory is protected as nature reserves," said President Michel during the meeting.

The President of the Confederation of Employers and Industries of Spain, Mr. Gerardo Diaz Ferran, praised Seychelles for the work that it is doing to encourage tourism and trade with Spain. Members of the confederation also commended Seychelles for the good governance of economic, political and environmental affairs of the country.

Mr. Gerardo Diaz Ferran said that the institution would send a delegation to Seychelles in the near future to continue discussion and explore investment opportunities. He said that President Michel's intervention at the meeting would be distributed to all enterprises and members of of the confederation in Spain.

The President said that he was  greatly encouraged that as a result of the meeting at the confederation, a platform has been set up with the private sector of Spain to develop business in new and diversified areas between Seychelles and Spain.