Harnessing Digital Transformation for Productivity and Jobs in Seychelles : Background Note for the Seychelles Country Growth and Jobs Report

Overview & Synopsis

This note provides an assessment of Seychelles’ digital transformation agenda and identifies policy actions to strengthen productivity, economic diversification, and job creation. It serves as a background paper for the World Bank Country Growth and Jobs Report for Seychelles, which will be published in 2026. The note draws on consultations with the Government of Seychelles (GoS), the private sector, and other stakeholders, and is intended to support the ongoing policy dialogue on digital development and competitiveness. While Seychelles has established important foundations for digital development, including near-universal connectivity, investments in digital public infrastructure, and relatively advanced legal frameworks for data protection and cybersecurity, significant challenges remain. High broadband costs, uneven service quality, digital skills shortages, fragmented implementation of digital government services, limited institutional capacity, and low adoption of digital technologies by firms continue to constrain productivity gains and economic diversification. The note outlines recommended actions across five areas to accelerate digital transformation and its economic impact: (i) Improve the affordability, quality, and competitiveness of broadband services; (ii) Strengthen digital government and Digital Public Infrastructure through enhanced coordination mechanisms, greater interoperability and service integration; (iii) Enhance cybersecurity, data governance, and digital trust frameworks; (iv) Expand digital skills across all levels of the workforce; and (v) Increase productive use of digital technologies through stronger firm adoption, digital entrepreneurship, innovation support, and development of digital services. Together, these policy actions can help translate digital investments into higher productivity, more diversified sources of growth, and quality job creation.