Salim Mathieu
Bio
Salim Mathieu is an Entrepreneur, Political Reformer, and Advocate for Seychelles’ Global Presence. He is dedicated to advancing the interests of Seychelles through business, diplomacy, and community engagement.
Stories (17)
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Salim Mathieu: The Economic and Diplomatic Case for a Seychelles–Nordic Partnership
For small island nations like ours, the future will not be shaped by geography alone but by the alliances we choose, the knowledge we absorb, and the global networks we build. In the complex world that is emerging, Seychelles cannot afford to rely on traditional partnerships or familiar diplomatic routines. We must look outward with sharper intent, identifying regions that complement our strengths and help us move beyond the limits of scale. One of the most promising of these regions is the Nordic world. Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland each offer a unique combination of economic resilience, governance excellence, and values-based diplomacy that aligns closely with our long-term ambitions.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: My Vision for a Stronger Seychelles Presence in Scandinavia
There is a quiet yet powerful shift happening in global diplomacy, one that rewards small nations that know how to build deep, strategic relationships rather than relying on size or economic weight. Scandinavia is one of the regions where this shift is most visible. For Seychelles, the countries of Northern Europe represent far more than distant partners. They are models of governance, hubs of innovation, and societies that have mastered the delicate balance between prosperity, sustainability, and social cohesion. My own years moving between Seychelles and Europe, and especially my time in Denmark and Sweden, have shaped a clear vision of how Seychelles can cultivate a stronger, smarter, and more meaningful presence in this region.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: What Seychelles Can Learn from Nordic Economic Models
When I first began spending long periods of my life in Northern Europe, I quickly understood why the Nordic countries are admired far beyond their borders. It is not only because they are prosperous or well managed. It is because they have built economic models that place human capability, trust, and long term thinking at the center of national development. As a Seychellois observing these systems up close, I could not help thinking about what lessons Seychelles could adapt to shape a stronger and more resilient future.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: My Blueprint for Transforming Seychelles into a High Skill, High Income Nation
For years, I have believed that Seychelles can become far more than a beautiful destination. We can be a country that produces knowledge, exports expertise, and nurtures a generation of highly skilled citizens who command global respect. A high skill, high income nation is not defined by its size. It is defined by the depth of its ambition, the quality of its institutions, and the confidence of its people. Living between Seychelles and Europe taught me that the greatest difference between advanced societies and developing ones is not wealth. It is mindset and planning.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: The Case for Expanding Seychelles’ Diplomatic Footprint. The Lessons from My Time in Europe
My years living between Seychelles and Europe changed the way I understand diplomacy. When you come from a small island state, you grow up hearing that your country must be cautious, modest, and selective in its global engagements. You are taught that the world is too large, too fast, and too competitive for a nation of our size to shape events beyond our shores. Yet the more time I spent abroad, the more I realised that this idea of smallness is something we impose on ourselves rather than something the world demands of us.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: Why I Advocate for a More Ambitious Seychelles
Ambition is not a word often associated with small island states. The world tends to see countries like ours as fragile, passive, and dependent on forces far larger than ourselves. For most of my life, I have watched how this perception shapes the way others speak to us, negotiate with us, and even advise us. Seychelles is often treated as a country that should focus on survival rather than advancement, on modest goals rather than bold visions. Yet every instinct in me rejects this limited idea of who we are and what we can become.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: My Vision for a Stronger Seychelles Presence in Scandinavia
Strengthening Seychelles’ presence abroad is no longer a matter of prestige. It is a strategic and economic necessity for a small island nation navigating a world that is rapidly shifting in power, technology, and geopolitics. Among the regions where Seychelles stands to gain the most, Scandinavia occupies a unique place in my thinking. It is a part of the world I know personally and deeply, a place that shaped my outlook on governance, social responsibility, and long term national planning. More importantly, it is a region whose values and strengths align remarkably well with Seychelles’ aspirations for sustainable development, innovation, and global engagement.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: Why the Seychellois Diaspora Is One of Our Most Undervalued National Assets
Every country has a story that extends beyond its borders, a narrative carried in the memories, ambitions, and achievements of its people scattered across the world. For Seychelles, this external chapter has grown quietly, often unacknowledged, yet it represents one of our most powerful and least explored national strengths. The Seychellois diaspora, spread across continents from Europe to the Middle East and from Africa to Australia, holds a reservoir of knowledge, networks, capital, and global experience that remains largely untapped. At a time when small nations must think creatively to compete, the relationship between Seychelles and its diaspora has become too important to treat as a footnote.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Why Seychelles Must Rethink Its Foreign Policy for a New Global Reality.
There are moments in the life of a nation when silence becomes a liability. When the old patterns of diplomacy begin to feel like a comfortable habit rather than a strategic choice. When the world shifts so dramatically that a small country must decide whether it will adjust with confidence or be swept along by the ambitions of others. Seychelles is standing at that threshold today. Our foreign policy, shaped over decades of relative predictability, now sits in a global environment that no longer resembles the one that produced it.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Why Young Seychellois Must Be Included in Economic Planning Right Now. Opinion by Salim Mathieu
There is a quiet crisis unfolding beneath the surface of Seychelles’ postcard beauty. It is not visible in the blue of our waters or the green of our islands, nor is it reflected in tourism numbers or GDP graphs. It lies instead in the subtle but widening distance between the generation shaping today’s national decisions and the generation that will inherit their consequences.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Lessons from Living Between Seychelles and Europe: A Diplomatic Perspective
Introduction There is a certain clarity that comes from living between two very different parts of the world. Seychelles, with its warm intimacy, familiar rhythms, and island identity, contrasts sharply with the structured order, advanced systems, and cultural diversity of Europe. Moving between these two environments is more than a change of geography. It becomes a study in how societies function, how people think, and how nations rise or fall based on the choices they make. Over the years, shifting between Seychelles and Europe has shaped my diplomatic worldview, sharpened my understanding of governance, and deepened my belief that Seychelles has the potential to evolve into a modern, confident nation that protects its culture while expanding its global reach.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
Salim Mathieu: Why Sweden Is Becoming a Key Partner for Africa and the Indian Ocean Region and How Seychelles Can Benefit
Introduction For many, Sweden is known as a model of social development, environmental innovation, and technological advancement. What is less often appreciated is Sweden’s growing strategic engagement in Africa and the Indian Ocean region. In a world increasingly defined by shifting power balances, technological competition, and climate urgency, Sweden is positioning itself as a key partner for countries seeking stable, responsible, and forward-looking international relationships. For Seychelles, this shift presents both opportunities and responsibilities. Our nation can benefit enormously by aligning its economic, diplomatic, and technological ambitions with Sweden’s growing presence in the region.
By Salim Mathieuabout a month ago in Journal
