Seychelles has called for increased efforts to develop a regional shipping line to strengthen maritime connectivity among island and coastal Member States.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Barry Faure, made the call while addressing the 46th COMESA Council of Ministers meeting. He said the proposed shipping line could help reduce transport and logistics costs, improve the reliability and predictability of essential imports, and strengthen collective resilience to disruptions in global shipping routes.
Mr Faure noted that a feasibility study for the initiative has already been completed and validated, and said Seychelles is ready to re-engage on the way forward. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission in advancing the project.
The minister also raised the issue of pooled procurement of pharmaceutical products. He said smaller Member States such as Seychelles, which have no domestic manufacturing capacity, depend on regional mechanisms to ensure access to affordable and reliable medicines. He called for harmonised approaches across Regional Economic Communities and asked the COMESA Secretariat to support Member States in negotiations with external partners.
During the meeting, Mr Faure congratulated Seychellois national Lina Hoareau on her appointment as Manager of Human Resources at the COMESA Court of Justice.
He also delivered the vote of thanks at the opening ceremony on behalf of all Member States, calling for deeper COMESA regional integration to enhance market access within the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Mr Faure was accompanied by Christian Faure, Director General for Regional Affairs, Jimmy Butt, Honorary Consul General, Jean-Phillip Banane, Third Secretary for the Regional Affairs Division, and Manuella Servina, Protocol Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora.