From bilateral diplomacy to investment facilitation, Ambassador Gervais Moumou is deepening Seychelles’ ties with the UAE. Here, he explains how trust and long-term partnership are shaping the country’s investment story. 

Q: What has been your guiding vision for the role, and which strategies have most defined your direction? 

My focus has primarily been on positioning Seychelles as a long-term partner of the UAE, a trusted long-term partner, rather than a transactional counterpart. That is essentially the vision. 

The emphasis has been on political trust, economic diplomacy and ensuring that Seychelles’ national priorities are clearly understood by our UAE counterparts, including UAE policymakers and investors. 

In terms of strategies, I would describe these as structured engagement with UAE institutions, consistent messaging on policy stability and sustainability and strong collaboration with economic bodies in Seychelles. This is to ensure that our messaging is clear and fact-based, and that my diplomatic engagement aligns with Seychelles’ sustainable development agenda, with the aim of inspiring investor confidence. 

Q: You took part in the December 2025 meeting between President Herminie and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. What were the key takeaways, and how does it position Seychelles as a strong bilateral partner? 

The meeting was very interesting. I believe it was described as one of the longest meetings His Highness Sheikh Mohamed has had with a head of state. It was quite long and very enjoyable. 

It gave Seychelles the opportunity to reaffirm the very good relationship, friendship and partnership between the two countries. It also reaffirmed our shared commitment to advance practical and forward-looking cooperation in the future. 

Q: Your bilateral agenda spans infrastructure, renewable energy, health, education, maritime security and capacity building. Why are these sectors important for growth and reputation? 

All the sectors you mentioned are very important and crucial to the socioeconomic development of Seychelles. If we take infrastructure and renewable energy, these support productivity and climate resilience. If we consider education, health, and capacity building, these support productivity and social stability. Maritime security is also very important because Seychelles is a small island in the Indian Ocean, and our location makes that sector particularly significant. 

It is also important that, as a country, we maintain our reputation internationally, and that investors understand we are a trusted and reliable partner. In our communication, we ensure it comes across clearly that Seychelles is stable and safe, with relatively low risk for doing business. 

Q: What sectors or projects would you highlight as the most attractive opportunities for UAE investors today? 

There are many attractive opportunities, particularly in sectors with clear market demand and strong government policy support. This creates a trusted environment for investors. 

A few key areas include fisheries and the blue economy. Tourism and hospitality remain a main pillar of our economy. We also have digital services, which are growing in importance with the emergence of new technologies. In addition, maritime services and logistics are significant areas for investment. 

To help investors navigate these opportunities, there is the SDG Investor Map, a roadmap structured to identify investment areas and align them with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. The Seychelles Investment Board is the main facilitator and first stop for investors, at no fee, there to provide information, facilitate and guide investors based on what the market requires. 

At the same time, we have very attractive tax policies that can entice potential investors. Our intention is to promote Seychelles as a credible, investor-friendly jurisdiction. 

Q: How do platforms such as the World Summit for Social Development and the Arabian Travel Market aid your efforts to attract UAE investment? 

These are very important platforms. Even though the event in Doha did not have a direct link with investments or investors, I believe that, as a diplomat practising economic diplomacy, every opportunity and every event is a chance to connect with an investor, a policymaker, or anyone relevant, make a connection, and convey why it is important to invest in Seychelles. 

In these interactions, I aim to inspire confidence by emphasising that Seychelles is stable and that investment will be sustainable. One important point we consistently highlight is that investment should not only be capital investment, but also include expertise, and that there should be a long-term commitment in any investment that comes our way. 

Q: How are you using your role to highlight Seychelles’ regulatory strengths and position the country as a competitive gateway for UAE-based business? 

This remains at the top of our priorities: continuously inspiring confidence in investors and encouraging them to invest, while ensuring that we always provide factual, up-to-date information. 

We also make the necessary connections between investors and the Seychelles Investment Board. This helps investors understand what Seychelles is about. There is also a word-of-mouth effect. If an investor has a good experience and is satisfied with the treatment they receive in Seychelles, they will communicate that to peers and colleagues, encouraging more investors to take an interest in investing in Seychelles. 

Q: Seychelles’ draft science, technology and innovation policy targets Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. How does this position the country as an innovation-ready destination for UAE investors? 

The UAE is very forward-looking and highly digitalised. Many services are accessible on a smartphone, paying bills, receiving tickets and other processes. 

The draft policy reflects Seychelles’ intention to align its economy with emerging technologies. Strengthening research capabilities is essential for long-term competitiveness. For investors such as those in the UAE, it portrays a country that is not only focused on today’s opportunities but also prepared to tackle the opportunities of tomorrow. 

This is why we participate regularly in the World Government Summit, an important platform where policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, governments and the private sector meet, and an opportunity to secure investment and learn about the latest technologies, whether in climate or financial technologies. 

Q: How have your previous roles as a protocol officer and Chief of Protocol shaped your leadership style? 

It may feel like a long time ago, but it gave me an appreciation for precision, coordination and institutional credibility. These are qualities that are important in diplomacy, and when engaging with investors. 

There must be a level of professionalism so that it is clear to investors that you are genuine in the messages you convey. These experiences have helped me develop the qualities necessary to support Seychelles in reaching the next level in terms of investment opportunities, engaging the right investors and understanding who is engaging. 

There is a convergence between Seychelles and the UAE around sustainability, economic resilience and people-centred development. This shared language is what made the meeting earlier this year between the presidents of the two countries very interesting and important, and allowed Seychelles to present itself as a stable, reliable and trusted partner of the UAE in the Indian Ocean.