President James Michel visited several businesses in the districts of Mont Fleuri and Plaisance this afternoon, which forms part of a series of visits to various communities and businesses this year.

He met with a young man at Mont Fleuri who has a carpentry workshop and is seeking to expand it, as well as young woman who has an omnibus business who is doing contract services for companies and hopes to enter the taxi business as well.

The President then visited a design and printing workshop at Rochon, where he viewed the expansion plans of the owner who is finding the market demand is high for his products. In the same area, he visit a hairdressing salon as well as tailoring workshop, and then proceeded to a house in Coppolia in the Plaisance district where he met with the owner of a child-minding business.

A young man who has a home business at Coppolia with potted plants and flowers also briefed the President his business plans. The President then ended his district visit at the newly opened Rosebelle Farm Meat Supply Store at Plaisance, which had been officially inaugurated earlier in afternoon. He toured the facilities with his delegation.

Following his visit, the President said that he was impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit of the Seychellois people and their desire to grow their businesses.

“This visit confirmed to me that the economic reforms which we undertook were not only a necessity but were very good for Seychelles, because after we had created the foundation of our economic development… we have seen a transformation and today we see that Seychellois are really engaging themselves in business, especially in small business....they want to grow, they want to expand and this is good news. It shows that there are opportunities for them,” said Mr. Michel.

The President said that he was also encouraged by the knock-on effect that some businesses had on growth opportunities for others. For example a printing and design workshop that is printing photographs and creating more business for enterprises that engage in picture framing.

“Congratulations to the Seychellois, who have responded to the call for entrepreneurship!” he said.

The President also congratulated well established farmers Mr. Cherubin Morin and his son Mr. Jean-Pierre Morin and their family on the opening of the Rosebelle store at Plaisance, which he called a ‘magnificent initiative’ which would benefit the development of Seychelles, its prosperity and creation of wealth.

President James Michel was accompanied by the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation, Mr. Michael Benstrong, Principal Secretary for Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation, Mrs. Maryse Berlouis, District Administrator for Mont Fleuri, Ms Jency Volcere, District Administrator for Plaisance, Ms. Claudette Louis, the Member of the National Assembly for Mont Fleuri, the Hon. Begitta Jeannevol, the Member of the National Assembly for Mont Plaisance, the Hon. Roma Aglae  and senior officials of the Office of the President.

Editor's note

Photo caption: Aubrey Adeline shows the quality of his printing and designs to President Michel at his workshop  at Rochon, Mont Fleuri.