Seychelles is benefiting from an €8 million programme funded by COMESA through the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Market Access Programme (RECAMP). The initiative aims to boost the competitiveness of Seychellois small and medium enterprises by facilitating their access to finance, skills development, and regional and international market integration. It comes in a context of accelerated digital transformation of regional trade.
500 SMEs supported across the COMESA region
Across the COMESA zone, the RECAMP programme has already supported more than 500 enterprises. In Seychelles, priority is given to entrepreneurs — with a particular focus on women and youth — who struggle to access regional markets due to limited administrative, financial, or commercial resources. Targeted sectors include traditional crafts, high-value artisan products, and services.
In practice, the programme offers training, individual coaching, networking at regional and international trade shows, and support to simplify commercial procedures. The ultimate goal: enabling Seychellois SMEs to break out beyond their island borders into a regional market of 600 million people.
The electronic certificate of origin: a digital turning point
Alongside this, Seychelles joined the COMESA electronic certificate of origin (eCO) platform on June 17, 2026, becoming the sixth member state to adopt the system. In practical terms, Seychellois exporters can now generate, transmit, and validate their certificates of origin entirely digitally — eliminating paper-based delays and costs.
This digital shift is particularly strategic for an island economy: it reduces the administrative friction that previously put local SMEs at a disadvantage compared to their continental peers.
Why this matters
Seychelles boasts the highest GDP per capita in Africa — $17,670 according to the latest available data. But this wealth still rests heavily on tourism and fishing. Diversifying the economy through SME development, blue economy initiatives, and digital transformation is a strategic priority for Mahé. COMESA's support through RECAMP sends a clear signal: regional integration is a lever for resilience, not just a political objective.
Sources: Africa24 TV, COMESA — August 2026.