AGP Executive Report

Starlink in Seychelles: Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay says Starlink’s satellite internet went live on 18 July, after the government granted the ISP licence in February—aimed at improving connectivity across the archipelago’s 115 islands. Maritime & tourism spotlight: Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List puts Praslin, Seychelles, among the “fast-rising” islands, while Saint Lucia tops the overall ranking—another reminder that Seychelles tourism is staying on the global radar. Blue economy ties: A report on PM Modi’s 27–29 June visit highlights 19 India–Seychelles outcomes across development finance, digital payments, maritime cooperation and agriculture, with potential for stronger implementation. Crypto security warning: Three men jailed in London for a fake-police crypto scam that stole over £4m, including spending trips that reportedly included the Seychelles—fuel for renewed calls to watch for urgent “transfer to a secure account” tricks. Energy reliability: Cyprus activated rotating load-shedding groups after severe demand, with a published list of affected areas—useful context as Seychelles continues to manage power stability. Reef education: Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers visited Praslin schools to teach coral restoration and responsible reef tourism.

Starlink in Seychelles: Seychelles’ satellite internet service went live on July 18, with Vice President Sebastien Pillay saying Starlink can now offer broadband across the archipelago’s 115 islands—aiming to boost connectivity quality for remote communities, tourism operators and maritime users. Tourism spotlight for Praslin: Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List puts Praslin, Seychelles among the fast-rising island picks, with the Seychelles tourism brand getting a global visibility boost as searches and social buzz climb. Electricity stress abroad: Cyprus has started rotating power cuts in grouped areas after demand outstripped generation capacity, with authorities publishing full district lists—another reminder of how energy shortages can quickly spill into daily life. Travel access lists: Henley data says Nigerians can travel to 44 destinations without pre-arranging a visa, and South Africa’s visa-free rules show Seychelles among the limited African countries eligible for up to 90 days. Local environment & jobs: Seychelles-linked talks include exploring candlenut cultivation on post-mining lands in Berau, while Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers brought coral restoration lessons to Praslin schoolchildren.

Aviation & Tourism: Air Seychelles has signed a lease for two Airbus A321XLR jets from SMBC Aviation Capital, with the first delivery due in 2028, aiming to strengthen Seychelles’ global connectivity and reach key international source markets. Regional Mobility: Russia has expanded visa-free travel deals with African nations, including Seychelles, for short stays—part of Moscow’s push to deepen trade, education and diplomatic ties. Seychelles in the Spotlight: Expedia’s 2026 “Island Hot List” puts Praslin in the Seychelles among destinations seeing rising travel interest, as island searches jump worldwide. Blue Economy & Diplomacy: A new analysis highlights how India-Seychelles cooperation from PM Modi’s June 2026 visit is targeting blue economy opportunities across maritime, digital payments and development finance. Local Business & Tech: Excent Capital has partnered with BridgeWise to offer free AI-powered market analysis on its Seychelles-based trading platform. Marine Conservation: Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers visited Praslin schools to teach coral reef protection and restoration, including hands-on reef star coral restoration.

Aviation & Tourism Links: The Maldives and Ethiopia have signed a bilateral air services agreement to enable scheduled direct flight connectivity, with Ethiopian Airlines and Maldivian airlines set to operate services between Addis Ababa and the Maldives—an effort to boost tourism, business travel, and trade. Visa Access for Seychellois Travellers: Russia has expanded visa-free travel deals with African nations, now including Seychelles for short stays, as Moscow pushes wider cooperation across trade, education, security and diplomacy. Seychelles in the Spotlight for Island Tourism: Expedia’s 2026 “Island Hot List” puts Praslin in the Seychelles among the fast-rising island destinations, as global searches for islands jump and travellers look beyond traditional hotspots. Regional Trade & Business: PACCI has elected Tanzania’s Vincent Minja as Vice President for the East African region, representing Seychelles among 14 countries to strengthen intra-African trade and investment. Marine Conservation Education: Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers visited Praslin schools to train young “ocean guardians” on coral reefs and hands-on restoration using reef stars.

Seychelles-ASEAN Tourism Links: Seychelles is exploring partnerships to develop Indonesia’s Pemapak Hot Springs, with the Seychelles President’s Special Envoy to ASEAN, Nico Barito, visiting the site after renovation and strong visitor numbers. Regional Business Leadership: Tanzania’s Vincent Minja was elected PACCI Vice President for the East African region, with Seychelles named among the 14 countries he will represent. Seychelles in Digital Finance Debate: A new analysis looks at how digital finance could help Seychelles modernise its financial services and reduce tourism-linked vulnerabilities. Ocean Conservation Education: Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers visited Praslin schools to teach coral reef protection and hands-on restoration methods. Crypto & Trading Tech (Global, with Seychelles angle): Bitget announced new trading integrations and products, while Excent Capital partnered with BridgeWise to offer free AI-powered market analysis to traders. Visa/Travel Watch: Spain’s latest visa-free list includes Seychelles, and Romania also lists Seychelles for visa-free entry—both with short-stay limits.

Crypto Market Watch: Crypto venture funding hit $1.2bn in July even as DeFi deal activity slid to its lowest quarterly level since late 2023, with investors still completing about 25 rounds by July 20. Local Fintech & Trading: Seychelles-based Excent Capital says AI-powered market analysis from BridgeWise is now available free on its platform for all traders. Fraud Crackdown: In the UK, three men were jailed over a £4m crypto scam where they impersonated police, used fake police websites, and laundered stolen funds into luxury spending. Tourism & Travel Links: Spain is set to grant visa-free short stays (up to 90 days) from 2026 to ordinary passport holders from eight African nations including Seychelles, with standard border checks still applying. Marine Education: Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers visited Praslin schools to teach coral reef protection and hands-on restoration using reef stars. Seychelles Business Leadership: SeyRe Global promoted Dinesh Salgadu to COO, alongside earlier senior appointments of Shahina Chattun as CFO and Vanida Pillay as CEO.

Crypto Crime in the UK: Three men were jailed in London for a fake-police cryptocurrency scam that stole over £4m from eight victims, using phone calls, convincing police-style websites, and “secure account” instructions before laundering the funds into luxury spending. Seychelles Business & Finance: Seychelles-based SeyRe Global promoted Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following earlier leadership changes including a new CFO and CEO. Tourism & Environment: Nature Seychelles Reef Rescuers visited Praslin’s Vijay International School to teach coral-reef protection and hands-on restoration using reef stars. Local Governance & Policy: Seychelles’ SBC bill has become law, prompting public reaction. Travel Access Watch: Romania and Spain expanded visa-free entry lists for short stays, with Seychelles appearing on at least one exemption list. Regional Diplomacy: PM Modi’s Indo-Pacific tour included a stop in Seychelles, framed as a strategy to reduce dependence and deepen ties with like-minded democracies. Maritime Climate Warning: Scientists warn the Indian Ocean is warming faster than other basins, threatening fisheries and ecosystems across the region.

Wildlife Crime: Singapore authorities are probing a TikTok/Telegram scam that advertised illegal tortoises for sale, including Aldabra giant tortoises native to the Seychelles, with buyers reportedly directed to pay via Telegram and arrange delivery from Malaysia. Travel Rules: Romania has published its 2026 visa-free list, including Seychelles and Mauritius among African exemptions, while Montenegro also lists Seychelles for up to 90 days without a visa. Seychelles Business & Finance: Seychelles-based SeyRe Global promotes Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following earlier senior appointments, as the reinsurer highlights operational and technical leadership. Crypto & Markets: Seychelles-based Bitget rolled out new AI and cross-asset unified account features, aiming to simplify trading across crypto and tokenised US equities. Local Governance: Seychelles-linked reaction continues as the SBC bill becomes law, with broader implications for public broadcasting.

Seychelles Politics & Society: The widow of former Seychelles president France Albert René speaks on his “own type of socialism,” saying the model was tailored to a small island and mixed ideas to fit local circumstances. Seychelles Business & Finance: Seychelles Reinsurance Global (SeyRe Global) promotes Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following earlier senior moves including Shahina Chattun to CFO and Vanida Pillay as CEO. Seychelles Digital Assets: Seychelles-based crypto exchange Zoomex is in the spotlight via World Cup final branding, while Bitget and BitMart push new AI and cross-asset trading features in their latest updates. Travel & Visas (Regional): Spain expands visa-free short stays (up to 90 days) for eight African countries including Seychelles, while Azerbaijan’s 2026 e-visa list includes Seychelles among only five African eligibles. Crime & Regulation (UK): In a major UK case, three men jailed for a £4m crypto scam impersonated police officers using fake websites; investigators say proceeds funded luxury travel including the Seychelles. Environment & Food Security: Scientists warn the Indian Ocean is warming faster than other basins, with marine heat waves already shifting fish stocks and threatening livelihoods across the region.

Visa-Free Travel for Seychellois: Spain’s 2026 update adds eight African nations to visa-free short stays (up to 90 days), including Seychelles, easing travel for tourism and business while still requiring standard border checks. Regional Mobility Push: Chad announced it will abolish entry visas for all Africans from 1 January 2027, joining a growing list of countries moving toward freer intra-African travel. Seychelles in Global Visa Lists: Azerbaijan’s 2026 e-visa eligibility list includes only five African countries—and Seychelles is one of them—while Russia’s 2026 visa-free list also names several African states with passport-type conditions. Local Business & Finance: Seychelles-regulated forex brokers are highlighted as part of a wider push toward more transparent trading, with traders increasingly judging platforms on execution, fees, and support—not just licensing. Crypto Crime Watch: In the UK, three men were jailed for a £4m crypto scam that used fake police websites to trick victims into transferring funds; investigators say the gang funded luxury spending, including trips that reportedly included the Seychelles. Seychelles Politics & Legacy: The widow of former Seychelles President France Albert René spoke on his “own type of socialism,” stressing it was tailored to a small island’s circumstances. Reinsurance Leadership: SeyRe Global promoted Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following earlier senior appointments including a new CFO and CEO.

Seychelles Visa Access: Azerbaijan’s 2026 e-visa eligibility list includes just five African countries—Algeria, Djibouti, Mauritius, Seychelles and South Africa—meaning most of the continent still faces visa hurdles via embassies. Travel Rules Watch: Spain is set to grant visa-free short stays (up to 90 days) from 2026 to eight African nations, including Seychelles, while other major passports like South Africa’s are left out. Forex & Regulation: A guide for traders highlights what Seychelles-regulated forex brokers typically offer, and why users are now focusing on execution quality, fee clarity and platform reliability—not just licensing. Local Business Leadership: SeyRe Global promotes Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following earlier senior appointments including Shahina Chattun as CFO and Vanida Pillay as CEO. Politics & History: The widow of former Seychelles president France Albert René speaks on his “own type of socialism,” arguing small-country realities shaped his approach. Global Crime With Local Links: UK courts jailed a crypto gang that impersonated police to steal £4m from eight victims, with spending reportedly including luxury trips to the Seychelles.

Crypto Crime in the UK: Three Nigerians and another man were jailed in London for a £4m+ cryptocurrency scam where fraudsters impersonated police, used fake “secure police accounts” and stole funds from eight victims before laundering the money and funding luxury cars, Rolexes and holidays. Seychelles Business Leadership: Seychelles Reinsurance Global (SeyRe Global) promoted Dinesh Salgadu to COO, following recent senior appointments including Shahina Chattun as CFO and Vanida Pillay as CEO. Visa-Free Travel for Seychellois: Spain’s 2026 short-stay visa-free list includes Seychelles, allowing ordinary passport holders up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism or business, with standard border checks still required. Regional Mobility Push: Chad announced visa-free entry for all Africans from 1 January 2027, joining a growing group of African states easing travel barriers. Digital Finance Moves: Bitget rolled out AI features for crypto and US equities updates, and launched a cross-asset unified account that lets tokenised US stocks share one margin pool with crypto.

Digital Assets Watch: BitMart says H1 2026 was a tough test for crypto platforms, with Bitcoin down about 33% and Ether down about 50%, but it reports asset-management AUM up roughly 256% while adding hundreds of new spot assets. Regional Travel Rules: Poland, Hungary and Luxembourg all published 2026 visa-free lists that keep Seychelles in the spotlight—Poland includes Seychelles (plus Mauritius and São Tomé & Príncipe), Hungary lists only Mauritius and Seychelles from Africa, and Luxembourg names just Mauritius and Seychelles. Seychelles Media Governance: Seychelles’ SBC bill has become law, reshaping board appointments and expanding who can name members—an update that drew fresh debate over broadcaster independence and political balance. Crypto Crime in the UK: In London, three men jailed for a £4m “fake police” crypto scam used fake law-enforcement websites to trick eight victims, then splurged on luxury travel including the Seychelles. Business & Payments: BOC in Sri Lanka launched a mobile wallet tap-and-pay service, while Seychelles-linked fintech and ads developments continue across the region, including Google Ads expansion into Seychelles via 365 Digital.

Crypto Crime in the UK: A Watford-based gang that posed as police officers to steal more than £4m in cryptocurrency has been jailed, with Kevin Nwamma, Anthony Ikenwe and Hamza Bashir sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after victims were tricked into handing over account details and funds via fake police websites. Seychelles on Europe’s Visa Lists: Poland’s 2026 visa-free list includes only three African countries—Mauritius, Seychelles and São Tomé and Príncipe—while Hungary’s 2026 exemption covers just Mauritius and Seychelles. Spain Opens Short Stays: Spain has added nine CARICOM countries to its visa-free entry list and also granted visa-free access for up to 90 days to eight African nations, including Seychelles. Regional Travel Rules: Thailand is tightening visa exemptions and privileges, cutting a 60-day waiver for many countries and keeping Mauritius and Seychelles at up to 15 days. Local Governance Watch: Seychelles’ SBC bill becomes law, with debate focused on how board appointments could affect public broadcaster independence. Business & Finance: SeyRe Global promotes Shahina Chattun to CFO, and 365 Digital expands its Google Ads partnership across Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritius, Seychelles and Réunion.

Seychelles Media Law: The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) bill has become law, reshaping board appointments and raising fresh concerns about broadcaster independence, including the expanded role of the National Assembly and the president’s power to appoint members. Visa Access for Seychelles Travellers: Spain’s 2026 entry update grants visa-free short stays (up to 90 days) to eight African countries including Seychelles, while other Caribbean states like Jamaica and Guyana are left out. Regional Travel Rules: Thailand’s Cabinet approved a tighter visa exemption review, ending a 60-day waiver for many countries and setting new visa-free limits; Mauritius and Seychelles are set for up to 15 days. Digital Payments: Bank of Ceylon (BOC) launched Sri Lanka’s first mobile wallet tap-and-pay experience, part of a wider push toward contactless banking. Finance & Business: Seychelles-based SeyRe Global promoted Shahina Chattun to CFO, while FINXSOL announced a new end-to-end forex brokerage infrastructure platform for fintechs.

SBC Media Law: Seychelles lawmakers have passed the SBC bill into law, triggering fresh debate over how the public broadcaster’s board is appointed and whether safeguards are strong enough to protect independence. Digital Payments: Bank of Ceylon (BOC) unveiled Sri Lanka’s first Tap & Pay mobile wallet through BOC Flex, a sign of how fast the region’s banking is moving toward contactless services. Visa Access for Seychellois: Thailand will shorten visa-free stays for many countries but keep Seychelles on a visa-free tourism list for up to 15 days; Spain also expanded visa-free short stays to include Seychelles for up to 90 days within 180 days. Regional Travel Links: Botswana published its 2026 visa-free list, with Seychelles among the African countries exempt from pre-arrival visas. Business & Finance: Seychelles-based SeyRe Global promoted Shahina Chattun to CFO, while FINXSOL announced a new end-to-end forex brokerage infrastructure platform aimed at fintech startups. Tourism & Governance: A Seychelles cruise season update and a push for better tourism governance (not just promotion) underline the focus on managing growth sustainably.