weighted score 4.2 · ten dimensions
Sourcing Attractiveness Index · ten dimensions
Seychelles
Labour cost, supply base depth, logistics infrastructure, trade access, and innovation scores for Seychelles as a sourcing destination.
Labour cost competitiveness
3
High-income small island economy. Labour costs are high relative to the region and globally. Minimum wages and living costs are substantially above African mainland peers.
Supply base depth
2
Minimal manufacturing base. Economy is services-dominated. Supply chains limited to tuna canning and small-scale food processing. Almost all manufactured goods are imported.
Logistics & infrastructure
4
Port Victoria handles modest volumes. International airport with good connectivity to Gulf hubs. Infrastructure is adequate for island scale but not for large-volume trade.
Workforce skills
5
High literacy rates and education levels for Africa. English and French speaking. Small but well-educated workforce. Skills concentrated in tourism and services rather than manufacturing.
Scalability
5
Tuna fisheries have natural limits. Tourism capacity is deliberately constrained for sustainability. Population size fundamentally limits any manufacturing scalability.
Ease of doing business
6
Strong institutions for a small island state. Transparent regulatory environment. Low corruption relative to region. Business registration is straightforward.
Trade access & tariffs
4
EU EPA (ESA) provides preferential access. COMESA membership. Small domestic market limits attraction for export-platform investment.
Sustainability baseline
6
Strong environmental commitment — 50% of territory is protected. Blue economy leadership. Climate vulnerability (sea level rise, coral bleaching) is existential for the country.
Innovation & IP
2
Limited R&D capacity given population size. Blue economy innovation is notable but niche. No significant patent activity or tech sector.
Quality standards
5
Tuna exports meet EU SPS standards. Tourism sector operates to international quality standards. Limited manufacturing means limited quality management system adoption.
Tourism & Services Economy
Tourism & Services Economy
- Tourism dominance
- Tourism is the primary economic driver, accounting for over 25% of GDP directly and significantly more indirectly. The Seychelles is a high-end tourism destination in the Indian Ocean, competing with Maldives and Mauritius.
- Services orientation
- The economy is heavily services-oriented. Financial services, including offshore banking and company registration, complement the tourism sector. Manufacturing capacity is minimal.
- Population constraint
- With approximately 100,000 people, Seychelles has the smallest population of any African Union member. This fundamentally limits labour availability, domestic market size, and manufacturing scalability.
Fisheries & Trade Access
Fisheries & Trade Access
- Tuna industry
- Seychelles hosts one of the largest tuna canning operations in the Indian Ocean (Indian Ocean Tuna Ltd). The country's EEZ is one of the richest tuna fishing grounds globally. Canned tuna is the primary goods export.
- EU trade access
- EU EPA (Eastern and Southern Africa group) provides preferential tariff access. Tuna exports to the EU benefit from favourable rules of origin provisions.
- Blue economy
- Seychelles is pioneering blue economy strategies, including the world's first sovereign blue bond (2018). Marine spatial planning and sustainable fisheries are policy priorities.