VZCZCXRO1340
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHPL #0041 0421235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111235Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4978
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0008
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHPIGXW/CJTF HOA
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS PORT LOUIS 000041
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON MARR SE
SUBJECT: U.S. MILITARY PRESENCE BENEFITS SEYCHELLES ECONOMY
1. SUMMARY: U.S. military activities in Seychelles
increased dramatically starting in July 2009. This enhanced
U.S. military presence had a significant and positive impact
on the country's economy, contributing an estimated $5.5
million to the Seychelles economy during the period July to
December, 2009, a significant sum in a country as small as
Seychelles. END SUMMARY.
2. Thanks in part to a recently-signed U.S./Seychelles SOFA,
U.S. military activities in Seychelles increased
significantly during. the period from July to December, 2009.
There were, for example, twelve ship visits, three Flag
Officer visits -- General Ward (AFRICOM), Rear Admiral Kurta
(CJTF-HOA), and Rear Admiral Sanders (CTF 151) -- a three
month P-3 Deployment (including three P-3 aircraft and 113
personnel), various training programs for local Seychelles
government/military staff, and a UAV Operation, OCEAN LOOK,
(including 82 contractors and military personnel).
3. For bookkeeping purposes, the military divided the
activities into three categories: P-3 Deployment, UAV
Operation, and Ship Visits. The P-3 Deployment contributed
approximately $1.4 million in revenue, in the following areas:
Lodging/Billeting $548,852
Vehicle Rental $ 79,672
Facilities/Services $ 34,659
Food/Liberty $127,069
Air Seychelles Services $ 5,000
Aircraft fuel $644,839
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TOTAL $1, 440,091
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4. The UAV Operation, OCEAN LOOK, contributed approximately
$3.1 million in revenue, in the following areas:
Lodging/Billeting $1,457,784
Vehicle Rental $ 51,760
Facilities/Services $ 598,363
Food/Liberty $ 937,260
Aircraft fuel $ 70,777
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-----------------
TOTAL $3,115,944
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-----------------
5. The Ship Visits contributed approximately $0.9 million in
revenue, in the following areas:
Facilities/Services $600,000
Food/Liberty $293,400
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TOTAL $893,400
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6. The total contribution for the three military programs was
$5,449,435; a significant amount to the Seychelles economy.
7. The Seychellois have already taken notice of the economic
benefits. Seychelles Secretary of State Jean Paul Adam
observed that local shop owners and restaurateurs have
commented that the U.S. military is bringing steady income
into hotels, restaurants, and shops: a direct influence of
the American presence. In addition, an indirect benefit has
been an increase in tourist confidence resulting from the
security provided by the U.S. military.
WALKLEY