COMESA Launches Innovation Hub for Seychelles Women & Youth

Seychelles is making significant strides to foster entrepreneurship and innovation through the establishment of the COMESA Federation of Women in Business (COMFWB) Seychelles Incubation and Innovation Hub, which aims to unlock new business potential for women and young entrepreneurs. It will act as the national hub for entrepreneurship; innovation and business development for the national program Creating Opportunities for Youth and Women in Africa (COYWA) at Ile Perseverance.

The foundation stone was laid and a commemorative plaque unveiled during the launch ceremony of the Hub. President Patrick Herminie and First Lady Verononique Herminie, as well as COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe and COMFWB Chief Executive Miti Chikakula led the event. Others present were Minister for Industry and Enterprise Geralda Desaubin, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora Barry Faure and COMFWB Seychelles Chapter Chairperson Claudette Albert.

The Innovation Hub is anticipated to serve as a significant catalyst for women entrepreneurs, women start-ups and young entrepreneurs to access incubation services, business development support, innovation resources and entrepreneurship programs. This project is in line with Seychelles' other initiatives on inclusive economic growth and enhancing the country's entrepreneurial environment.

Key Highlights:

• COMESA launches innovation hub to support women and youth entrepreneurs in Seychelles.
• Hub will provide business incubation, innovation, and entrepreneurship support under the COYWA Program.
• Set to open in 2027, the Hub will strengthen inclusive economic growth and women-led businesses.

COMESA Secretary-General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe described the launch as a milestone which is more than just the building of a new facility in his address during the event.

Today is not just the laying of a foundation stone," she said, "it's the laying of a foundation for opportunity, for enterprise, for innovation, for a future in which the women and young people of Seychelles are the architects of Africa's economic transformation.

The Hub is being created within the framework of the COYWA Program, a five years initiative developed by the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). The program is designed to enhance women and youth entrepreneurship, skills development and business support in Africa to boost women's and youth economic opportunities. Seychelles officially joined the program in the implementation phase in January 2025 and officially participated on July 20th 2025.

COMFWB's Chief Executive Miti Chikakula emphasized the importance of the project, which underscores the importance of involving women in the economic integration agenda of the COMFWB. She termed Seychelles as the first women owned regional business incubator and said that it will be expected to be a center of excellence for COMESA member countries and the African continent.

The project is the result of years of Seychelles-COMESA cooperation, says Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Barry Faure. He added that since 2022, COMFWB Seychelles Chapter was collaborating with COMESA to train and support women entrepreneurs, youth and startups. The Hub is intended to give Seychellois entrepreneurs skills and the tools to implement it at their fingertips, and to strengthen regional cooperation, Faure said.

Minister for Industry and Enterprise Geralda Desaubin said the Innovation Hub will greatly contribute to the government's Seychelles Made and Aste Lokal emphasizes to encourage local enterprise development and innovation. It's an investment in the country's people, its economy and its future, she said.

The COMFWB Seychelles Incubation and Innovation Hub is expected to be operational in 2027, building on Seychelles' partnership with COMESA and further providing opportunities for entrepreneurial, innovative and inclusive economic development for women and youth in Seychelles.