President Herminie Receives AfDB Executive Director at State House

Evaluating Seychelles’ Economic Performance is Central to the Partnership Between the Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

On January 8, 2026, President Dr. Patrick Herminie received Ronald Cafrine, AfDB Executive Director, at State House to discuss strengthening cooperation and support for the country’s sustainable development.

The meeting provided an opportunity to analyze the current economic situation and consider ways to strengthen the country’s resilience to global challenges. Both parties also discussed the possibility of improved access to financing for the private sector. According to Cafrine, it is essential to better inform local businesses and institutions about the opportunities offered by the Bank so that they can fully benefit from them.

Another important point of discussion concerned the preparation of a new partnership framework between the AfDB and Seychelles. This five-year strategic document will serve as a guide for future development projects, aligning them with national priorities and the 2026 budget.

The Executive Director noted that the Bank currently provides budget support in the form of loans, along with technical assistance for the implementation of public policies. He emphasized, however, that due to Seychelles’ high-income status, access to large grants remains limited.

For his part, President Herminie commended the quality of cooperation with the AfDB and congratulated Cafrine on his appointment to the Bank’s Board of Directors, where he represents the East Africa constituency. The Head of State also expressed the country’s pride in seeing a Seychellois citizen hold a high-level position in an international institution.