12 February 2025 | State House.
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning
It is an honour to stand before you today, representing the proud nation of Seychelles - a Small Island Developing State with a strong voice in championing sustainability, equity, and resilience. For us, sustainability is not just a choice; it is a necessity for our survival and prosperity.
I extend my deepest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, for his visionary leadership and gracious invitation to this year’s World Government Summit, held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Governments.” I also thank the organisers for providing Seychelles the opportunity to share its journey and insights in this SDGs In Action Forum. Our gathering is more than a meeting of minds; it is a call to action, reminding us of our shared responsibility to build a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and just.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we approach 2030, the horizon of the Sustainable Development Goals, we must celebrate the strides we have made, while acknowledging the road ahead. Our current priority is achieving the SDGs by 2030, but we must begin designing a 2045 global agenda – one that is bold, ambitious and demands decisive action.
The journey toward 2045 started with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), evolved through the SDGs, and now calls for a new vision: the Extended Development Goals (XDGs) for 2045. As we move forward, we must draw from the lessons, experiences, successes, and shortcomings of previous frameworks. The year 2045 will mark the 100th anniversary of the United Nations, a milestone that must reflect our commitment to global progress. The next global agenda must be built on inclusivity, equity, sustainability, resilience and driven by technology.
Seychelles has integrated the SDGs into its national development plans. Our blue economy model, marine conservation efforts, and commitment to renewable energy are prime examples of how sustainability and economic growth can coexist.
But we are not alone in this mission. The challenges we face today—climate change, economic inequality, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical instability—demand collective action. Climate change, in particular, poses an existential threat to nations like Seychelles. Rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, and the loss of marine biodiversity, threaten not just our economy but our way of life. Yet, challenges create opportunities. Now is the time to rethink our economies, invest in green and blue economies, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Seychelles has pioneered marine conservation by designating 30% of our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as protected areas. This stands as a model of what small nations can achieve when political will aligns with innovative financing, such as our groundbreaking debt-for-nature swap, which has mobilised resources for marine protection. We call on the global community to adopt similar nature-positive financing strategies
No single country, sector, or entity can address these challenges alone. Collaboration and partnership are the bridge to progress. Seychelles has worked closely with international partners to drive sustainable tourism, fisheries management, and climate adaptation. But true impact will only come when governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia unite to transform innovative ideas into sustainable solutions. The 2045 agenda must prioritise public-private partnerships that foster green technology, sustainable food systems, and inclusive digital economies.
Regional cooperation is also crucial. Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can be game changers for sustainable development, unlocking economic potential while driving regional integration. However, we must ensure that these frameworks align with global sustainability principles.
The future belongs to the youth. But the real question is: Are we preparing them to lead? Today’s young people will inherit the world we shape. We must ensure they are not just participants but decision-makers in shaping the 2045 agenda. Empowering youth as leaders, activists, and entrepreneurs is crucial. Seychelles has embraced this through initiatives like the Youth Parliament and youth-led environmental movements, demonstrating that young people are not just ready, but eager to lead, innovate, and take responsibility for their future.
A vision without action remains a dream. We must ensure that the post-2030 agenda is not just aspirational but actionable. I urge the global community to commit to the following priorities:
Seychelles believes in a world where development is not a privilege but a right. We believe in a future where people and planet coexist in harmony. We believe in a global society that is not driven by short-term profits but by long-term prosperity for all.
Leadership is not just about governance: it is about vision, courage, and accountability. We must be bold enough to make decisions that may be unpopular today but are necessary for a better tomorrow. The future we pass on to the next generations depends on the choices we make now.
As we march towards 2030 and beyond, let us act decisively, let us act collectively, and let us act courageously. The future we want by 2045 is within our grasp—but only if we work together, innovate together, and lead together.
The time for action is now. The next generation is watching. The world we build today is the world they will inherit tomorrow. Let us not fail them.
Thank you.
