Eighteen businesses have shown interest in investing in the cinnamon industry in Seychelles, which is part of the government’s plan to diversify the economy, said a top official on Tuesday.

Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry Minister Devika Vidot made the statement in response to a question from the elected member of the National Assembly for the central English River district, Andy Labonte.

Labonte asked if any individuals have shown interest to enter the cinnamon industry after the government had announced its intention to revive the industry.

“Before the government announced its intentions to support the return of the cinnamon industry in Seychelles, only two people had shown interest in it. However, now 18 businesses have come forward with an interest to delve into this industry,” said Vidot.

She said that among them are some who want to harvest cinnamon, while others intend to produce value-added products using the popular spice.

Seychelles has a long history with cinnamon and the plantation industry, which was once the pillar and backbone of its economy. The spice was first introduced to the islands in 1772 by the order of Pierre Poivre — a French naturalist who was the administrator of Mauritius and La Reunion, which were also French island colonies at the time.

With the opening of the Seychelles International Airport in 1971 and a new focus on tourism, followed by the clearance of land for housing, the plantation industry lost its importance and started to dwindle in the early 1980s. To date, only a handful of people are still involved in the industry.

Source: Seychelles News Agency