Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, has congratulated Jean Claude de L’estrac for his new post as the successor of Callixte D’offay as the new Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission (COI).

At his Bel Ombre Offices, the Seychelles Minister has congratulated the former Minister of Mauritius and pledged his support for Jean Claude de L’estrac who had called on Minister St.Ange to discuss pertinent matters facing the Indian Ocean islands. Minister St.Ange told Mr. de L’estrac that he was a formidable candidate capable of continuing the changes already in place at the organization.

“The Indian Ocean Commission (COI) needs to continue to pave the way to become a more dynamic and pro-active organization. It needs to continue to be spearheaded by people committed to work and shape the organization for the benefit of the Indian Ocean islands. I see in you the candidate that can continue to stimulate these changes and continue to bring the Indian Ocean Commission forward,” Minister St.Ange said during Jean Claude de L’estrac’s courtesy call at his Ministry’s Headquarters at Bel Ombre. Mr. de L’estrac is expected to assume office as the new Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission on July 12, 2012.

Jean Claude de L’estrac said that he hopes that the Indian Ocean Commission would work to re-prioritize its activities.

“Tourism, airline access, food security, and increasing the visibility of the Indian Ocean islands under the auspice of the Indian Ocean Commission are the areas we need to work on,” Mr. de L’estrac said.

Mauritian by origin, Jean Claude de L’estrac is replacing Callixte D’offay, a Seychellois who has spearheaded the Indian Ocean commission for the past number of years.

Minister St.Ange told the new Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission that his mission should be to work to become the “voice of the islands advocating solidarity within the Indian Ocean islands.”

The Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture invited Mr. Jean Claude de L’estrac to consider the proposal for the transition between himself and Mr. D’Offay to take place in Seychelles during the opening or closing ceremony of Routes Africa 2012 in mid-July, which will this year coincide with the RETOSA Board of Directors Meeting and the General Meeting of the ICTP (International Council of Tourism Partners). The proposition is being considered by Mr. Jean Claude de L’estrac, and he agreed to discuss the proposal with the COI Office in Mauritius and with the Mauritian authorities.

Prior to his nomination as the Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission, Jean Claude de L’estrac was the President of the Administrative Council of the Press Consortium “Sentinelle.” Mr. de L’estrac was also a founding member of the Indian Ocean Commission when he was the head of the Mauritian Diplomacy in 1982.