Day: June 8, 2023

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4 golden anniversaries celebrated in Seychelles in 2023

This year is full of anniversaries of events and milestones for Seychelles. Many of these milestones and events are now 50 years old and are the footprints of the Seychellois people’s history.

SNA brings you 4 golden anniversaries being celebrated in 2023.

Anglican Diocese of Seychelles

The Diocese celebrated its golden jubilee on March 26 and a series of activities were organised to commemorate the event. The Diocese of Seychelles was set up on March 25 in 1973 and its first bishop was Reverend Canon George Cardell Briggs, consecrated at St. James Cathedral in Mauritius. The Anse Boudin Chapel on the North East Coast of Praslin is also 50 years old this year.

Seychelles’ oldest marine park turns 50

Conservationists will celebrate 50 years since the Ste Anne National Marine Park was created in the Indian Ocean. The marine park which covers an area of 1.501 square metres is a veritable showcase of the island nation’s submarine life, which visitors and locals can enjoy from the comfort of glass-bottom boats.

Created in 1973, the National Park, which is located 5 kilometres from the Seychelles’ capital of Victoria, was set up to protect six islands off the northeast coast of Mahe.

The islands are Ste Anne, Cerf Island, Île Cachée, Round Island, Long Island, and Moyenne Island.

Archbishop Makarios Foundation of Seychelles

The Makarios Trust Fund, today known as the Archbishop Makarios Foundation of Seychelles, was founded in 1973 and gives schoolchildren in need bursaries through the Ministry of Education annually.

Through this collaboration, the ministry selects students from the state primary and secondary schools during the first term of the school year for the committee to assess and select from.

So far over 3,600 students have received bursaries since the fund was created, with an average of over 200 awards annually in recent years.

The charitable organisation was created by Cypriot Orthodox Archbishop Makarios III, following his exile in the island nation in the western Indian Ocean from March 14, 1956, until April 5, 1957.

Seychelles Regatta Festival

The annual Regatta event first took place back in 1973 at Beau Vallon Beach. After a hiatus of 4 years mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be back at the popular Beau Vallon Beach on August 25-27. Many activities will be on the programme including the Miss Regatta Seychelles.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Long-term Strategy foresees greater inclusive digital education

Long-term strategic plan going until 2050, currently under public consultation, provides for step-up of digital education and expansion of literacy in the field.

In order to achieve this goal, the Government defends the implementation of digital literacy programme for teachers and equipping primary and secondary schools with computers and internet.

The government assured that the plan will be implemented through partnerships with internet service providers and adapted to curricula.

This initiative will ensure the inclusion of introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the development of digital skills and apply new pedagogical methods that promote creativity and innovation.

The government plans to include, by 2050, the learning of digital skills in the programmes of all courses and plans to equip higher education institutions with computer facilities and internet access, as well as to make curricular content available in digital format.

The plan also covers the implementation of technology parks, associated incubators and centres of innovation and skills development, promoting the wider dissemination of digital skills and digital innovation.

Increasing teachers’ digital literacy

The government also announced plans to create a digital literacy programme, offering teachers short courses to develop skills that enable them to use digital technologies and platforms.

The plan includes online training, communication and pedagogical activities as well as virtual teaching methods.

The Long-Term Strategy also includes the use of online training platforms for the continuous instruction of higher education teachers and the creation of a “Virtual University” in Angola.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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President names new Minister of State for Economic Coordination

Angolan head of State João Lourenço Thursday appointed José de Lima Massano Minister of State for Economic Coordination, taking over from Manuel Nunes Júnior, a note from the Presidency’s Press Office has stated.

Prior to the appointment, José de Lima Massano was sacked from the position of governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA), to which he had been appointed on 7 December, 2022.

The note added that Manuel Nunes Júnior was fired as Minister of State for Economic Coordination, a position he had been appointed to on 19 September, 2022.

José de Lima Massano was governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) between October 2010 and January 2015. He was previously chairman of the Executive Committee of the African Investment Bank (BAI).

José Massano holds a Master’s Degree in Management and Auditing from the City University of London and a Degree in Economics from the University of Salford, Manchester, England.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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Angola committed to AfCFTA accession process

Angola remains committed to the process of accession to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), ANGOP learnt on Thursday.

The country’s engagement was announced by the director of the Legal Office for Exchange of the Ministry for Trade and Industry, Anatólio Domingos.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of AfCFTA Secretariat’s visit to the Trade and Industry Ministry, Anatólio Domingos said the country needs to reach 90 percent of liberalisation of certain products to achieve this goal.

He said that the country is working with General Tax Administration (AGT) on complying with tariff lines for the percentage items.

“After the completion of the work, he said, the proposal will be submitted to AfCFTA secretariat division for verification. After a positive response, it will be forwarded to the minister before being submitted to the Cabinet Council for approval,” he explained.

In terms of products and services to be exempted from the customs tariff, Domingos said there are 5,417 tariff lines. For immediate liberalisation, the agreement requires 90 percent of the lines.

The Secretary of State for Trade, Amadeu Nunes, spoke of the importance of identifying companies, products and potential export markets in Africa, although it was also fair to include the import component.

The official said that the visit of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a strengthening in the commitment that exists in relation to the implementation of the Agreement signed in Kigali, in March 2018.

Meanwhile, the president of the Angolan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Vicente Soares, called for the need to improve trade between African countries due to the low percentage, around 16 to 17 percent.

In order to improve the trade scenario, he said it was necessary to map out the African market to allow traders across Africa to get to know each other.

AfCFTA is a flagship project of Agenda 2063, which aims to create a single African market for goods and services, facilitated by the free movement of people and capital.

Its objective is to deepen economic integration, promote and achieve sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, gender equality, industrialisation, agricultural development, food security, structural transformation and inclusive human development.

Angola became a formal State Party to the AfCFTA in 2020, after the country deposited the letter of ratification of the Agreement.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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Government to resume iron mining in Kassala-Kitungo

The government plans to resume iron mining exploitation within three years in Kassala-Kitungo mines, northern Cuanza Norte Province, the secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Jâneo Correia Victor said Wednesday in Ndalatando City.

The re-launch of the iron exploration is expected to take place at the end of the prospecting studies that began early this year, whose aim is to determine the mining potential for concession to companies.

Correia Victor disclosed the information to the press during a workshop with mining operators.

Prospecting will be carried out by British company Capital Mining, which already has the equipment in the area, located in Caxissa, Dange ya-Menha municipality, 40 kilometers away from Ndalatando City.

According to the company’s technician, Pedro Sebastião, the activities planned for the reactivation of the mine include metallurgical tests, an economic and environmental impact studies, geological information and training of staff.

Sebastião added that the mine has to date around 70 extraction holes, with a depth of 16 to 200 metres.

The secretary of State explained that reactivation of Kassala-Kitungo aims to boost the supply of iron ore on the national market, promote an increase in public revenues and improve job opportunities, particularly for young people.

The Kassala-Kitungo mines, which cover 7,000 square metres, were once exploited in the colonial period.

The Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, according to the secretary of State, is committed to strengthening policies for exploration of mineral resources and will take measures against companies that fail to comply with the rules of the activity.

During the training session an updated geological study of Cuanza Norte Province was presented, which established the existence, on a large scale, of iron, copper and manganese reserves, mainly in the municipalities of Ambaca and Cambambe.

The participants advocated the adoption of a new model for supervision and granting of mining licences, since a large number of the 13 agents operating in the province operate with expired licences.

It was noted that most of the companies do not have environmental impact studies, an exploration plan, protection equipment and licences posted at the entrance to the mines.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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Angola, Russia assess bilateral cooperation

Angolan and Russian authorities discussed Thursday in Luanda the search for mechanisms to increase bilateral relations in the political, diplomatic, economic and technological fields.

This was during an audience the Angolan top diplomat Téte António granted to the ambassador of the Russian Federation to the country, Vladimir Tararov.

The two interlocutors focused on the need to speed up of the political consultations between Angola and Russia.

They also analysed the necessity to hold Inter-governmental Commission for Economic Cooperation between the two countries.

Vladimir Tararov also discussed with the Angolan Foreign minister matters related to the Russia-Africa summit, scheduled for July, in St. Petersburg.

The discussion also covered the preparation of the BRICS summit (an economic bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), due to take place at the end of August in the South African city of Durban.

The Russian diplomat also spoke of his tour to the provinces of Huíla and Benguela, as well as of the first appointment of a Counselor for Agriculture of the Russian Federation in Angola.

Angola and Russia have expressed interest in strengthening cooperation, with stress to the diversification of the strategic partnership in the political-diplomatic, defence and security, technological and economic-business fields.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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