The Seychelles Enterprise Agency (ESA) and the Chamber of Trades and Crafts of Reunion (CMAR) last week renewed their partnership agreement, intended to facilitate exchanges between the two regional bodies.
The agreement was signed by Ms. Angelique Appoo, the director of ESA, and the president of CMAR, Mr. Bernard Picardo, during a meeting at the Seychelles Bureau of Standards, in Providence.
It was in 2014 that the Seychelles and Reunion had initiated a first partnership agreement, between the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency (Senpa), the predecessor of ESA and CMAR.
The agreement was transferred to ESA, following the repeal of Senpa’s law in 2019.
Addressing the guests at the ceremony, Miss Appoo said that ESA, an entity of the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, is very pleased to renew this partnership agreement.
She added that the agreement brings several benefits, namely a training system for professionals from the two islands, technical support for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the promotion of the small and medium-sized enterprises sector through professional exchanges, in particular fairs and exhibitions.
“This agreement will bring more benefits to the handicrafts sector in Seychelles and Reunion, as we are still trying to find ways to further develop the handicrafts sector in Seychelles. This is so that our culture and heritage can continue to inspire the younger generation and, in turn, create new business opportunities, job opportunities and a generation of wealth,” she said.
For his part, the president of CMAR, Mr. Picardo said that the two companies have made great operations from the first signature and the renewal of the agreement confirms that they will continue to work more for their two islands.
“When we set up this kind of partnership, it’s really interesting and important because it allows our two islands, even if we are quite far apart, to share know-how. We are Europe in the Indian Ocean and therefore the CMAR will work a lot to support companies in terms of economic development and professional training,” he said.
It should be noted that, within the framework of this agreement, two young Seychellois entrepreneurs were able to follow a three-month internship in Reunion in 2019. The two interns, namely Mario Freminot of ‘ Gato Services’ and Agniessa Payet, owner of the salon of hairstyle ‘ Infinity Hair Salon’ , were present at the ceremony to share their experiences of the internship and their stays in Reunion.
Speaking to the guests, Mr. Freminot, who did his internship in the field of pastry, said that it was a very nice experience.
“Teachers and students made us feel very welcome. They exposed us to theory and practice and the way of teaching really helped us to be able to launch into our project as soon as we returned to Seychelles. It was a unique experience,” he said.
Ms. Appoo added that the two entities will also work with local partners such as the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts; and its subsidiary entities, local associations related to crafts, including other relevant actors from the private sector “to push for projects and actions to materialize under this partnership agreement”.
The Reunionese delegation was to leave the country on Sunday.
Source: Seychelles Nation