The itinerary for Seychelles
Industries and International Business Minister Jacquelin Dugasse's offshore
fact finding visit to Europe was revealed last week, on his return from Europe.
The Minister, who also heads
the Seychelles International Business Authority, paid a working visit to Cyprus,
the United Kingdom, and France in order to gather intelligence for the government's
drive to make the Seychelles' offshore sector into a well-regulated regional
hub. M. Dugasse was instructed to look at the technical and legislative frameworks
and infrastructural bases in place in succesful offshore jurisdictions.
The International Business
Minister held discussions with key officials from the Cyprus government, as
well as with the Governor of the Central Bank, and representatives from the
Offshore Banking Unit of the Bank of Cyprus, and ways in which to develop investment,
and financial services and trade links between the two countries were reportedly
discussed.
In London, according to
reports, the Minister met with senior personnel from the Financial Services
Authority in order to discuss regulatory concerns and issues, and attended the
2002 Financial Services Conference.
During his visit to Monte
Carlo, according to the Seychelles Nation newspaper, M. Dugasse attended an
International Tax Planning Association meeting, and provided those attending
with an overview of imminent legislation and other developments within the jurisdiction.