06/12/2011

Business leaders in the Seychelles are hoping that the opening of the country's first diplomatic representation in the Middle East and Gulf nations will help establish more business opportunities with the oil-rich region.

State officials from the Seychelles and the UAE gathered in Abu Dhabi last week to mark the official opening of the Seychelles Embassy there. The opening came just a few months after Seychelles resident Ambassador to the UAE, Dick Patrick Esparon presented his credentials to the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in September.

The launch was attended by the President of the Republic of Seychelles, James Alix Michel, who said that the nations already enjoyed a friendly relationship through their trade and tourism industries.

"Special focus will also be on the promotion of economic and business exchanges and interactions between the business communities of both countries," President Michel told the gathered dignitaries. "The new Embassy will act as conduit between the government and people of Seychelles, to the government and the UAE, and will give a new dimension for interaction and contact."

The Seychelles is already developing into a world-class financial services centre, and it is hoped that the opening of the Embassy will cultivate wealth management opportunities in the island nation from the UAE's oil wealth.