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.

I advocate for a more ambitious Seychelles because I know our potential. I have seen it in our people, in our diaspora, in our history, and in the way our nation has repeatedly surprised the world despite our size. I also advocate for it because I understand that ambition, when it is grounded in strategy and discipline, is the only way a small country can thrive in a global environment that is becoming more competitive, more unpredictable, and more technologically driven.

Ambition is not arrogance. It is not fantasy. It is the quiet but firm belief that we can do better, that we can reach higher, and that we can construct a future that reflects our capabilities rather than our constraints. Too often, Seychelles has been encouraged to think small. I believe the time has come for us to think differently.

Whenever I speak about ambition, I am not talking about skyscrapers or flamboyant displays of progress. I am talking about strengthening our institutions so they function at the level of the best small states. I am talking about positioning Seychelles not as a passive observer of global change but as an active contributor to it. I am talking about building an economy that responds to the twenty first century rather than the tourism model of the past. Ambition for me begins with mindset, because mindset determines direction.

One of the reasons I push for a more ambitious Seychelles is that we have already proven our ability to accomplish the seemingly impossible. We built one of the world’s most respected environmental reputations. We negotiated debt for nature swaps long before the rest of the world understood their value. We forged a multicultural society in the Indian Ocean that defied colonial predictions of division. These were not small achievements. They required courage, innovation, and a willingness to lead even when we were the smallest voice in the room.

That spirit still exists, but it needs to be activated and directed toward new areas where Seychelles can excel. Today the world is shaped by technology, sustainability, global competition, and the power of soft influence. If Seychelles limits itself to traditional comfort zones, we risk becoming irrelevant in a world moving rapidly in directions that do not wait for small island states to catch up. A more ambitious Seychelles embraces these realities instead of retreating from them.

I see ambition as essential for our economic resilience. We cannot continue relying heavily on one or two sectors while hoping they will carry us indefinitely. Tourism will always be a cornerstone of our economy, but it must no longer be its entire foundation. A more ambitious Seychelles builds a digital export economy, develops creative industries, strengthens ocean research capabilities, and turns its unique environmental positioning into a competitive advantage. These are not dreams. These are practical pathways that other small nations have already used to transform their destinies.

I have witnessed how small countries in Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, turned ambition into national identity. They invested in education, innovation, and public trust. They built institutions that valued competence. They created cultures where excellence is an expectation, not an exception. Seychelles deserves the same. Our young people deserve to grow up in a country where big ideas are encouraged rather than dismissed, where talent is cultivated rather than wasted, and where leadership inspires rather than intimidates.

Another reason I advocate for greater ambition is that I have seen the consequences of its absence. When a nation thinks small, it becomes reactive and vulnerable. It allows external pressures to dictate its direction. It loses the confidence to negotiate effectively or push for what is in its long term interest. In diplomacy, in the economy, and in domestic governance, ambition is what allows a country to stand with dignity and purpose. Without it, even the most beautiful nation becomes strategically weak.

I believe a more ambitious Seychelles starts with how we present ourselves to the world. Our foreign policy must reflect the confidence of a nation that understands its value. Our diaspora must be seen as an extension of our national strength, not as a group of forgotten Seychellois abroad. Our youth must be brought into economic planning and leadership development, not as an afterthought but as the driving force of our future.

Ambition also requires honesty. We cannot improve what we refuse to confront. We must acknowledge where our institutions are struggling. We must accept that corruption, inefficiency, and short term political thinking weaken our long term national interest. A more ambitious Seychelles demands a higher standard of governance, a deeper commitment to fairness, and a leadership culture grounded in transparency and competence. Without these foundations, ambition becomes empty rhetoric. With them, it becomes a national engine.

My advocacy is also personal. I have lived between Seychelles and Europe. I have seen the strengths and weaknesses of both worlds. I have learned what works, what fails, and what transforms societies. These experiences made me realize that Seychelles has every ingredient needed to succeed but has not yet unlocked its full potential. I am driven by the desire to see my country step into a larger role, to see our people supported by opportunities equal to their ability, and to see us respected on the international stage not for our beaches but for our ideas and achievements.

Seychelles does not need to imitate anyone. We simply need to believe more strongly in ourselves and build the systems that allow our potential to flourish. If we commit to this path, we can become a model for small island success, a nation recognized not only for its natural beauty but for its governance, innovation, and global contribution.

I advocate for a more ambitious Seychelles because I know we can do more. I know we can lead. I know we can inspire. And I know that future generations will judge us not by the challenges we inherited, but by the boldness with which we chose to rise above them.