Seychelles’ IT network a pacesetter.

The giant software company
Microsoft has chosen the Seychelles’ health information technology network as a model in Africa, for connecting all its health units via an intranet system.

Microsoft is using the health department as a “case study” to show its clients and partners across the globe how its technology can be used.

The system interlinked the department of health’s headquarters and the 16 units (except 3) by computer.

“This new network has improved communication, saved time, telephone call charges, transport and paper,” says the director for health planning and information, Dr Bernard Valentin.

The project started in 2001, with Microsoft joining in 2003 with the donation of software worth R200, 000. The company also offered the services of a consultant who trained the staff and put in the necessary security codes to ensure strict confidentiality.

“Seychelles could benefit even more in terms of telemedicine if the country could link up with the outside world via the main fibre optic cables currently running along eastern Africa,” according to the Microsoft regional representative Marc Israel.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) liaison officer, Dr Cornelia Atsyor said that through the project, Seychelles has become a pacesetter for other WHO countries in the region.

“It shows that this is workable and other countries can follow the example that Seychelles has set.”

Editor’s note: the Seychelles Health Department’s project is the only public sector one featured among another three from the region on the Microsoft website, under case studies. The others are the
Mauritius Commercial Bank, the Mauritius Textiles Company and
Air Madagascar.

Did you say e-banking?

On-line banking is the latest service on offer at Seychelles’ oldest banking institution, Barclays Bank.

Although this service is not at all new in Barclays Group and the banking world, for the moment it will only be available to the bank’s “top customers.”

Barclays Bank (Seychelles) says that through ongoing research they have found the desire to upgrade the services they offer as a modern international bank for the benefit of their customers and the community in which they operates.

“Internet banking will provide a web-based solution that gives our corporate customers more control over their transaction banking, namely the ability to manage their accounts anytime and anywhere in the world,” according to the Managing Director of Barclays (Seychelles) Frank Hoareau.

On-line banking follows the introduction of offshore banking some 12 months ago.

Since the 1st of this month, over 600 overseas clients of Barclays Bank (Seychelles) who have accounts with the bank here are being able to use the Internet to transfer funds in rupees to accounts in other banks based here.

“This will save them the trouble of having to write letters to Seychelles to transfer the money, and they will also be able to view the statements of their accounts from overseas, rather than wait for them to be mailed from Seychelles,” explains Mr Hoareau.

Barclays Bank (Seychelles) says it hopes to be able to offer similar services involving transactions in the foreign exchange starting in October this year in line with whatever Central Bank regulations will be place then.

The service was launched during the recent visit of the Chief executive officer of Barclays Africa and Indian Ocean, Dominic Bruynseels.

Opening up the on-line options.

A new proposal to open up Seychelles market with overseas customers is being reviewed by local business community.

An Indian Internet payment company Ankiti has contacted the Seychelles Investment Bureau (SIB) with a plan to set up an office here.

“Of the handful of Seychellois companies I’ve came across while searching the Internet, none had offered full on-line payment systems,” says Ankiti president Abhay Aggarwal.

During a presentation to the local business community, Mr Aggarwal explains that Ankiti would offer advice on website development incorporating on-line payment mechanisms and advertising.

This new business strategy will allow local companies, such as hotels and destination management companies, to take bookings and receive payment via the Internet.

“An online presence for business is almost a requirement and a sign of professionalism today. Clients and customers often expect to see web and email addresses on business cards and other promotional materials, so that they can read more about the products or services there,” says Ronny Adonis from Reliant Unified Solution (RUS) a computer-consulting firm located in Victoria.

According to the SIB technical director David Bianchi the overall aim is to boost the number of business transactions for local companies and that a review of the relevant legislation may be necessary to allow Ankiti, or any firm offering a similar service, to operate in Seychelles.

It should be noted that the push to open up on-line business to Seychellois firms dates back to the start of a joint e-commerce project, which involved
the Commonwealth, the Ministry of Industry and International Business and the
International Telecommunications Union, as far back as in February 2002.