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1.6. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), (...) "Seychelles has adopted a prudent and selective approach to foreign direct investment (FDI) entry, imposing regulatory limitations" on FDI (Section 2.4.1). This approach "served the country well", due to its size, "the scarcity of land and the need to preserve natural resources". (...)

2.13. (...) Seychelles aspires to become a diversified economy that enjoys stable, inclusive, and sustainable growth and Vision 2033 outlines the transformations needed to reach this outcome. The implementation of the plan is based on three five year National Development Strategies (NDS), starting with NDS 2019-2023 (...) The NDS 2019-2023 contains an action plan based on six pillars: (...) (vi) environmental sustainability and resilience. [10]
[10] These pillars are in line with Seychelles' commitments taken at the multilateral and regional levels, such as those under the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063.

2.14. More recently, in the context of the presentation of the Annual Budget for 2022 at the National Assembly, the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade (MFNPT) identified – in line with these strategies – three main objectives in the areas of trade and investment: (...) (ii) facilitate sustainable diversification of products and services (...)

2.32. (...) Seychelles also became party to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Trade in Services, which has been open for signature since 2012. (...) The second round of negotiations was launched in 2021 and covers regulatory issues and all remaining sectors ((...) environmental services (...)). (...)

2.36. The parties further included a rendezvous clause, under which they agree to continue negotiations and complete a full and comprehensive economic partnership agreement (EPA) that would include trade in services, customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), agriculture, and other trade related issues (e.g. (...) the environment).

2.51. (...) In 2018, it (Seychelles) adopted a new investment policy that outlines Seychelles' guiding principles (i.e. policy statements) to develop its policies and legislation, as well as its policy objectives, which include: (...) (iv) respecting the environment and sociocultural fabric of the country.

2.58. (...) In 2019, the number of factors used to evaluate the project increased from three to five to include sustainability and technology considerations. The five evaluation factors relate to: (...) (iii) economic and environmental sustainability (...)

3.36. In addition to tariffs, imports are subject to fees for customs operations, and various internal taxes and levies, some of which were introduced during the review period based on health and environmental considerations.

3.44. Seychelles applies based on environmental considerations: (i) a levy on motor vehicles [47]; (ii) a levy on cans, and PET and plastic bottles; and (iii) since 2018, a levy on glass bottles. [48] The levy on cans is SCR 1 per can, while the levies on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), plastic, and glass bottles is either SCR 1, or SCR 2 for glass bottles containing alcoholic beverages.
[47] Environment Protection (Environmental Levies) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020.
[48] Environment Protection (Environmental Levies on PET, Plastic and Glass Bottles and Cans)

3.45. (...) In 2020, the administration of the levy on cans and on polyethylene terephthalate (PET), plastic, and glass bottles was transferred from the Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade (MFNPT) to the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. However, for practical purposes, the levy's collection continues to be at the border by the customs authorities. In this regard, the authorities indicate that in practice these levies apply only to imports, as there is no local production.