James Alix Michel

The James Michel Foundation is guided by a commitment to promote the Blue Economy concept, both in its national and international aspects, to sensitise people about climate change and its impacts on Seychelles and the world, to promote environmental protection and sustainable development and defend and promote the cause of small island developing states. In my time as president, I have gained valuable experience and I enjoy access to a wide network of international contacts. I have been consistent in pressing the case for responsible policies on a global scale and I have gained the trust of numerous world leaders. Seychelles is a small nation but our mature response to the great challenge of promoting the Blue Economy, adapting and reducing the impact of Climate Change, and achieving the United Nation’s goals for Sustainable Development, is highly regarded. Under my past leadership, we have won the support of our own citizens and the international community alike.

As a keen educationalist, I was directly involved in the creation of the University of Seychelles. At the establishment of the university on 17th September 2009, I was named its chancellor. Prior to that, I also initiated the Seychelles Young Leaders’ Programme, a two-year graduate programme, whose main aim is to bring together and groom potential Seychellois leaders who have demonstrated leadership capabilities or share a clear commitment in shaping and serving the nation’s future, thus providing them with the opportunities and training to develop the skills, ethics and values conducive to being not only effective citizens but also to be tomorrow’s leaders.

One of my greatest achievements as President was the revitalisation and reform of the Seychelles’ economy. In October 2008, together, with the people of Seychelles, we embarked on an economic reform programme, undertaken with vigour and far-reaching impact, unprecedented in Seychelles history. The Seychelles rupee was floated, and a heavily front-loaded programme, that included a reduction of the public workforce, fiscal, structural and legal reforms, was implemented with the backing of a two-year IMF Stand-by Arrangement. One year following the reforms full macro-stabilisation had been achieved, as reflected through falling interest rates, curbing of inflation, and a considerable appreciation of the exchange rates, underpinned by strong fiscal and monetary policies.