Africa-Press – Seychelles. The Minister for Transport, Antony Derjacques, is calling on members of the public, especially those living on Praslin, who are interested in undertaking a commercial development on lands allocated to the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) under the ‘Kato Nwanr’ Project in Baie Ste Anne, Praslin, to start sending in their Expression of Interest (EOI) now that documents are available.
The minister made the call during a press conference yesterday morning at his ministry’s headquarters, Botanical House, Mont Fleuri. He was accompanied by the chief executive of SPA, Sony Payet.
The EOI was launched on Tuesday and potential bidders or investors have until January 24, 2023 at 3pm to collect the documents. These can be collected at the Seychelles Investment Burreau, Independence House Annex, at the Ministry of Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry’s office, Pension Fund Complex Grand Anse Praslin or via the email, [email protected]
The last date of submission of EOI is on February 27 by 3pm. There will be a mandatory pre-submission meeting at Kato Nwanr Island, Baie Ste Anne, on January 27 for all interested parties.
It has been one and half years since President Wavel Ramkalawan conceptualised the Kato Nwanr project on Praslin which entails the development of 23 plots of land among which SPA has been allocated with six plots. The authority has made available three plots to Seychellois including foreigners, for the construction of a marina, a second and larger passenger terminal complex and other developments around the flag pole area which will bring along different types of commercial, entertainment and other associated activities.
“We’ve therefore started the process for the investors to come forward and to show their interest in these developments on Praslin. I take this opportunity to especially request that Praslinois, or Seychellois in general, who want to invest to come forward,” Minister Derjacques said.
The minister stated that the project is once in a life time opportunity for Praslinois and others to participate in the development of Praslin and given its genre, it will surely bring economic benefits to the island and the country in general.
He said that the developments happening and which will continue to happen in the future on Praslin, are being done in the interest of the country.
He noted that Praslinois will be given priority over the projects which will be followed by other Seychellois and foreigners as third in consideration.
On his part, Mr Payet said that the ambitious project will surely attract the interest of many Seychellois businessmen and businesswomen, especially those on Praslin and the authority is looking forward to the public private partnership engagement.
The future passenger terminal will be a ground + 2 floors building with an attic for a medium luxury apartment for transit passengers and an underground basement as parking area. The terminal will be on the ground floor while the 1st floor will consist of a food outlet (restaurantcafe etc..). The second floor will cater for office spaces and a conference room.
The proposed marina will provide parking space for different size of leisure craft and yachts visiting the island and will give them the opportunity to come ashore to experiment the facilities available (restaurants, bars, historical site seeing etc.).
Given the over 350 leisure craft and yachts in the country, the development is expected to bring several spillovers in various tourism business avenues to directly benefit the small Praslinois entrepreneurs. It is in line with the country’s vision to facilitate participation of private investment in projects to blossom the Blue Economy.
The development at the flag plot will consist of four Kreol style modern buildings with a main architectural entrance and perimeter veranda space. They will cater for commercial and entertainment activities of which mostly will be in connection with the marina.
Minister Derjacques stated that given SIB will also launch its own projects, which also forms part of the ‘Kato Nwanr’ project, it will create more business and job opportunities for Praslinois and for non-Praslinois.
He noted that while there has been an increase in investment to develop and operate marinas on Mahé, there has been a lack to develop such activity on Praslin to encourage maritime tourism to grow on the island.
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