Enterprise Seychelles Agency organized its first Digital Forum on Wednesday 12th August 2020 at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles (ICCS) under its new campaign “MY FRIEND THE NET”. This campaign was launched in order to encourage entrepreneurs to join the digital world. Various online platforms including those that are already in existence and those that have emerged post-COVID were presented to the audience to convince them to have an online presence.
In her remarks to officially open the forum, the CEO of ESA, Ms. Appoo stated that, ‘with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our daily lives and the daily operations of businesses, there has been an outcry to change the way we are used to doing things. This has opened the eyes of many to adapt to the changes that are being pushed forward, such as online meetings rather than face-to-face interactions, using electronic point of sale facilities rather than cash transactions, online marketing and sales rather than physical sales, home delivery services rather than standing in line for a take-away, among many others.’ Entrepreneurs were called upon to bring more innovative businesses in Seychelles, in order to help change the current business climate.
Mrs. Iounna Pillay, the Secretary General of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) emphasized on the need to turn Seychelles into a digital economy to assist with the disruption that COVID-19 has brought upon the world. Some of the platforms presented includes Tourbookers, SeyBusiness, Seychelles Online Souvenir, Mavericks and SeyDirect. In addition to the platforms presented, ESA increased the awareness of the audience on some of the benefits of digitization and the CEO of NISTI highlighted the process of turning business ideas into reality through the Business Technology Innovation (BTI) Incubator which is soon to be a reality in Seychelles.
In the ICCS lobby several organizations were set up to provide more information to the audience on their online platforms and other programs in place to promote digitization. Some of the organizations included PUC, NISTI, MCB and Central Bank of Seychelles.
The initiative for the forum was constituted as part of the National Framework for Integrated Management of the Reopening of Seychelles and initiated by the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Department of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Enterprise Seychelles Agency.
