On Monday, July 29, 2024, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, welcomed Alia Hirji, Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) for Mauritius and Seychelles, at Maison Queau de Quinssy. Hirji, accompanied by Justin McDermott from the IOM Regional Office, presented her credentials to Minister Radegonde in anticipation of the National Diaspora Policy launch on Tuesday, July 30.
During their meeting, they discussed the crucial role of migration mobility in Seychelles. As a Small Island Developing State, Seychelles depends heavily on the tourism industry and a migrant workforce to drive development and fill skills gaps.
Hirji praised Minister Radegonde for his leadership as President of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and expressed her eagerness to collaborate with the IOC on maritime security, anti-trafficking efforts, and migration policies. She shared that the IOM plans to host best practice workshops in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs in October and thanked the Seychelles government for its proactive efforts to protect migrant workers and ensure their well-being.
Minister Radegonde expressed his gratitude for the IOM’s support, which has been instrumental in addressing migration issues and implementing vital programs and policies.
