08 January 2015 – Kenya-based Philippine Ambassador Bayani V. Mangibin presented his credentials to President James A. Michel of the Republic of Seychelles last December 09, 2014 in the country’s capital of Victoria.
The Republic of Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, is the third country where the Ambassador presented his credentials after Kenya and, most recently, Comoros. The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi has jurisdiction over 14 countries in the East African region.
Ambassador Mangibin was welcomed by President Michel who at the very first instance, expressed his sympathies for the destruction wrought by Typhoon Hagupit/Ruby. The Ambassador thanked the President and noted that the Philippines was prepared and able to minimize the loss of life and property.
The meeting with the President and other high officials of the Seychellois government centered on economic cooperation and climate change. Seychelles, which currently has around 700 Filipino workers mostly in the local fishing industry, is a potential work destination for Filipinos looking for jobs in the medical, hotel, spa, tourism, education and fishing/aquaculture industries, among many others. No less than President Michel, as well as other high ranking officials, whom the Ambassador met with, expressed their keen interest in and preference for Filipinos to work in these sectors in Seychelles.
Ambassador Mangibin met with several key officials in Seychelles from December 08 to 11, 2014, including Andre Pool, Deputy Speaker and Chairman for International Affairs and Media Committee of the National Assembly of Seychelles; Mr. Ernest Quatre, Commissioner of Police; Ms. Mitcy Larue, Minister for Health; Mr. Patrick Payet, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment; Mrs. Merida Delcy, Principal Secretary for Education; Mr. Rupert Simeon, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Investment Board; Mr. Peter Sinon, Minister for Natural Resources; Mr. Joёl Morgan, Minister for Home Affairs and Transport; Mrs. Anne LaFortune, Principal Secretary for Tourism; Ms. Benjamine Rose, Principal Secretary for Culture; and Mr. Finley Racombo, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Fishing Authority. END