The National ICT Policy for Seychelles

The National ICT Policy for Seychelles is a strategic document designed to harness the transformative potential of information and communications technology to drive the country’s development. It reflects a collaborative effort by government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders, coordinated by the National ICT Consultative Committee. The policy recognises ICT as both a standalone sector and an essential enabler across all areas of national life. It aims to create a coherent and harmonised framework to support ICT growth in a way that is inclusive, sustainable, and aligned with the country’s broader development objectives. The overarching vision is for Seychelles to become a globally competitive, knowledge-based information society, where ICT contributes meaningfully to improvements in governance, social well-being, economic performance, cultural identity, and regional integration. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of the Seychellois people by ensuring access to affordable, modern, high-quality ICT infrastructure and services throughout the country.

The policy outlines five focus areas to guide action: infrastructure, legal and regulatory frameworks, human capital, industry development, and government leadership. In terms of infrastructure, the policy promotes the development of a reliable, cost-effective, high-capacity ICT backbone accessible across the country, with support for private sector investment and competitive markets. The approach emphasises network interoperability, sharing of infrastructure, improved connectivity for e-commerce and public access to ICT tools, and continued upgrades to maintain regional leadership and global market access.

Legally, the policy commits to modernising legislation to reflect international best practices, foster legal certainty, and support secure digital engagement. Key legislative areas include cybercrime, consumer protection, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and digital business regulation. The legal framework should also ensure fair competition and support for innovation, backed by training for legal professionals and active monitoring of global legal developments in the ICT space.

Human resource development is another cornerstone. The policy calls for the integration of ICT education across all levels of formal schooling, as well as support for informal learning, lifelong education, and distance learning. It supports the development of national standards for training and certification, promotes gender inclusion, and seeks to attract and retain skilled ICT professionals. Public and private sectors are encouraged to collaborate in raising ICT awareness and building the national talent pool.

On the industry front, the policy encourages the growth of a vibrant ICT ecosystem by supporting innovation, open-source adoption, and local software development for both domestic and export markets. It aims to foster professional recognition, support research, facilitate international exposure, and stimulate joint ventures. ICT is positioned as a driver of modernisation for key economic sectors, such as tourism, fisheries, and offshore finance, and as a means of promoting local content and cultural heritage. Incentives and support are proposed to create an environment that fosters entrepreneurship and cost-effective ICT deployment across the economy.

The role of government is emphasised as central to ICT development. The policy promotes high-level leadership and the digitisation of government operations to improve efficiency and public service delivery. It supports public access to the internet and ICT tools, the international promotion of Seychelles through digital means, and the use of ICT for disaster response and environmental management. It also calls for enhanced coordination and cooperation at local, regional, and global levels.

Implementation of the policy is to be based on strong partnerships across all sectors, with the government committing to build the necessary capacity and tools, such as ICT indicators, to monitor progress and guide policy adjustments. Recognising the dynamic nature of the ICT field, the policy highlights the need for periodic review and continuous learning. It underscores the importance of open information flows and stakeholder engagement to refine strategies and respond effectively to emerging technological and competitive challenges.