Mauritius Minister Sik Yuen (R) & Seychelles Minister St.Ange (L)

The Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands, comprised of Comoros, La Reunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, and Seychelles, have moved from being just a group to becoming a full-fledged organization.

At a Tourism Ministers & Chief Executive Officers meeting of the Vanilla Islands that was held in Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles, it was Tourism Minister Michael Sik Yuen of Mauritius who proposed the Seychelles Tourism Minister, Alain St.Ange, for the post of First President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands.

Minister Sik Yuen of Mauritius was elected as Vice President, La Reunion took the position of Secretary and Mayotte became Treasurer. This solidifying of the structures of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands will now see the appointment of a CEO and of the setting up of the organization’s office at La Reunion.

Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles said after the meeting that he was honored to have been elected the First President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands. “We all believe that organization is a plus for our region. We all know that a strong region will strengthen our respective islands’ tourism industry. I will work with each island and also with the Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission for the consolidation of our Vanilla Islands,” Minister St.Ange of the Seychelles said.