The Seychelles is consolidating its dual-engine development model — tourism and blue economy — with a series of structural investments planned for 2026-2027: an extension of Port Victoria, hotel upgrades, and development of the local tuna processing industry.
The Numbers Behind a Moving Economy
Seychelles GDP reached $2.32 billion in 2025, with GDP per capita at $17,670 — the highest in Africa according to the IMF. Tourist arrivals rose 13% in 2025. The IMF projects 3.4% growth for 2027. Inflation remains among the continent's lowest, close to zero.
The Blue Economy: Far More Than Tourism
The Seychelles exclusive economic zone covers more than 1.3 million km². The archipelago sits within the world's second largest tuna basin, with its port handling approximately 20% of regional tuna catches. The government is now pushing local fish processing, with tax incentives for operators who process catches onshore. Minister Wallace Cosgrow is direct: « We already have the legal framework, we already have the policies. »
Infrastructure and Finance: The 2026-2027 Agenda
A tender for the expansion of Port Victoria was recently launched. An airport renovation programme is underway. In 2019, Seychelles issued one of the world's first sovereign blue bonds — an instrument that could be reactivated to finance new maritime projects. On the regulatory front, the VASP Act now governs virtual asset service providers, and the country has been removed from the EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.
Why It Matters
For regional investors, Seychelles offers a unique entry point: Africa's highest GDP per capita, mature financial infrastructure, hybrid business law (English common law and French civil law), company incorporation in 24 hours, and no capital controls. The combination of premium tourism, industrial fishing and offshore financial hub makes Seychelles a model of island economic diversification worth watching.