Seychelles  recognizes that beyond health and well-being, investment in health also contributes to social inclusion, gender equality, poverty eradication, economic growth and human dignity. The country's  broad strategic priorities for health in the National Development Strategy include pursuing effective health protection; promoting empowerment and personal and societal responsibility for holistic health; and building a high-quality integrated health care system with a focus on people-centred care.

The government is the principal investor in the Seychelles health system  providing free access to primary health care for all its citizens. The country’s health spending as a share of GDP increased from 4.8% in 2018 to 6.4% in 2020 which is expected to increase, due to several factors, including the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, an ageing population and the high cost of technologies.

By increasing government investments in digital health technology there is potential to extend health care services to the ageing population at reduced cost and, as indicated by synergies, to enhance investments in energy, to create decent jobs, to improve nutrition and to reduce inequalities.

The economy of the Seychelles has undergone structural transformation, but most of the change has occurred between the primary and the secondary sectors, while keeping the share of the service sector at around 66 percent of GDP. The share of the service sector has always been high due to overreliance on revenues from tourism. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced a widely held concern about the high vulnerability of the economy due to the dominance of this sector, justifying the Government’s current efforts to advance the economic diversification agenda.

To promote economic diversification, it is essential to prioritize investments in core infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, transport and logistics that would support diversification into non-service activities, such as manufacturing and financial services, ICT, as well as cut delays and improve market access.  

Acknowledging the increasing importance of services in supporting countries’  diversification efforts would be beneficial for Seychelles to develop new “deep trade agreements”, including the broad category of services and digital services (e.g. eservices, ecommerce). Such services trade policies could lead to higher labour,  overall productivity positive multiplier effects  on 7 SDGs (SDGs 1, 2 ,6, 7,  8, 11 and 12) and 18 associated targets, and one trade-off on water treatment (SDG target 6.3). While there are numerous benefits, there is one trade-off concerning water treatment. When undertaking these investments, it is vital to incorporate safeguards to address the trade-offs.

Seychelles faces significant vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. In response, the Government of Seychelles has maintained a strong commitment to aligning its development strategies with global initiatives aimed at limiting global warming. The country's revised Nationally Determined Contribution sets forth ambitious targets aiming to reduce economy-wide emissions by 26.4% by 2030 compared to business-as-usual scenarios. Furthermore, Seychelles aspires to achieve a decarbonized, net-zero emissions economy by 2050.

To pursue sustainable growth, Seychelles will not only continue to invest in safeguarding the Blue Economy, but also seek to harmonize climate action and development efforts. This approach ensures that the country's progress towards climate resilience and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change goes hand in hand with fostering sustainable economic growth to sustain the foundation of a high-income status.  

Investing in target 13.2 has positive synergies with 64 SDG targets  spread across 10 goals, but with 29 negative trade-offs with SDGs 14, 15 and 6, among others.  It is essential to navigate the complexities of these negative trade-offs while ensuring that policy implementation addresses competing interests and safeguards the ecosystem’s integrity.

In Seychelles 68.5% of the population is satisfied with the public services they receive.By focusing on SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), and specifically Target 16.6, measures can be implemented to cut across all goals and pillars outlined in the Seychelles National Development Strategy 2019  –  2023 and the Government of Seychelles Strategy 2024 – 2028, where public services are provided.

This offers Seychelles the opportunity to set a higher goal, for example towards the percentage of the population satisfied with public services received. This increase will have a positive multiplier effect on the progress of other SDGs.

However, it is crucial to ensure that this objective is accompanied by safeguards to prevent the deepening of inequalities.