(Seychelles News Agency) - The Greater Victoria Development Plan and the Seychelles Strategic Plan project were launched this morning by the Seychelles Minister for Land Use and Housing Christian Lionnet and the Executive Director of Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council Amer Al Hammadi.

It’s been two years since the Seychelles government and the United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) signed an agreement for the UPC to provide the island nation with technical and financial assistance to formulate a master plan for the development of Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles archipelago.

Now in 2014 the project is speeding up and public meetings will take place to engage the Seychelles population in the decision-making activity, says the Planning Authority.

The development of the Seychelles capital of Victoria has been a topic of much discussion in the country for some time now with the increasing volume of traffic and businesses in the capital, bringing much pressure on existing roads and other infrastructure.

Speaking to SNA, the Chief Executive of the Seychelles Planning Authority Gerard Hoareau said initially they had requested for help to define a planning development plan for Victoria but after consultations this has widened to include the whole of Seychelles.

“The wider plan now brings in more partners as it addresses different aspects. It will look at economic issues such as business development and environment protection, community needs and sustainability amongst others,” said Hoareau.

While a London-based consultancy company ‘Arup,” has won an international tender to oversee the development of this plan, it will essentially be a plan for Seychelles undertaken by Seychellois, he says.As of today Arup representatives will be based in Seychelles working alongside the Planning Authority and other partners.

The development of the strategic plan will be phased over one year with intense stakeholder engagement being encouraged, says Hoareau.

“We need to complete the project over twelve months and as we go along, the public will be engaged either through public meetings, roadshows, etc… so they can give their input,” he added.

Prior to the launching of the project, different sectors of the economy have met and discussed with the consultants to give their views on such a plan and to identify the different issues that need to be addressed in order to have a starting point.

Once completed the Greater Victoria Development Plan and the Seychelles Strategic Plan will be presented to the government for approval.

Hoareau has told SNA that this will be a long term plan that will guide the development in Seychelles over the next 30 years or so.