[ 18th November 2013] Supplement to Official Gazette 443

INDUSTRIAL ESTATES AUTHORITY ACT, 2013

(Act 9 of2013)

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SectionsPART I - PRELIMINARY

1. Short title2. Interpretation

PARTII - INDUSTRIAL ESTATES AUTHORITY

3. Establishment ofthe Industrial Estates Authority4. Functions of the Authority5. Powers of the Authority6. . Powers of Minister over the Authority

PART 111 - BOARD OF THE AUTHORITY

7. Establishment and Composition of the Board oftheAuthority8. Functi ons of the Board9. Chairperson and Secretary10. Tenure of office, resignation and removal of Members of the Board11. Remuneration12. Meetings of the Board13.. -Co-opted person to advise the Board14. Disclosure of interest

PART IV - ADl\tTh"lISTRATION OF THE AUTHORITY

13. Chief Executive Officer16. Deputy Chief Executive Officer17. Employees

.PART V -FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS OF THE AUTHORITY

18. Funds ofth.eAuthority19.. 'FinancialYear20. Estimates2] . Accounts and audits

444 Supplement to Official Gazette

PART VI - MISCELLANEOUS

[18th November 2013]

22. Application of certain Penal Code provisions23. Protection of acts done in good faith24. Regulations25. Transfer of assets and liabilities26. Consequential amendments

[lSth NovemberZill S] Supplement to Official Gazette 445

INDUSTRIAL ESTATES AUTHORITY ACT, 2013

(Act 9 qf20J3)

I assent

J. A. MichelPresident

14111November; 2013

AN·ACT to establish the Industrial Estates Authorityand to provide for matters connected therewith andincidentalth ereto.

ENACTED by the President and the National Assembly.

PART 1 - PRELIMINARY

L This Act may be cited as the Industrial Estates Short titleAuthority Act, 2013.

446 Supplement-to qUicia[ Cjaz,e{t(;! [18th November2013]

Interpretation 2. In this Act, -~ ,I

Establishment.ofthe IndustrialEst'll.::;

"Authority" means the Industrial Estates Authorityestablished under section 3( 1);

"Board" means the Board ofthe Industrial EstatesAuthority establ ished under section 7( I);

"Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Boardappointed under section .9( 1);

"Chief Executive Officer" means the ChiefExecutive Officer appointed under section 15(1);

"Deputy Chief Executive Officer" means theDeputy Chief Executive Officer appointed undersection 16(1);

"industrial estates" means geographically defined .areas set apart to carry out industrial activities andservices designated by the Minister on therecommendation of the Board by order published'in the Gazette;

-"Member" or "Members" means a member or themembersofthe Board;

"micro-enterprise premises" means workingpremises for small entrepreneurs;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible forindustry and "Ministry" is construed accordingly;

"prescribed" means prescribed .by way ofregulations;

"Small Enterprise Promotion Agency;' means theAgency established under ~ection 3 of the SmallEnterprise Promotion AgencyAct, 2004.

PARTIJ - INDtJSTRIALESTATES AUTHORITY

3.(1) There is hereby established an Authority to beknown as the Industria! Estates Authority.

[18th Novcmber 2013] Supplement to Official Gazette 447(2) ThcAuthority shall be a body corporate.

4. The functions of the Authority shall be to-

(a) implement the policies and strategies of theGovernment in relation to industrial estatesand micro-enterprise premises;

(b) develop and manage industrial estates andmicro-enterprise premises in collaborationwith Ministries, Government departmentsand other authorities;

(c) prepare plans and programmes for thedevelopment of industrial estates and micro-enterprise premises;

(d) oversee the performance of contracts relatingto infrastructure development of industrialestates and micro-enterprise premises;

(c) promote sustainable developrnentiofindustrial estat?s and micro-enterprisepremises;

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(f) monitor the performance and development ofindustrial estates, micro-enterprise premisesand publish reports thereon;

(g) establish and facilitate the establishment ofpublic facilities or services required byindustrial estates;

(h) promote the formation of an industrial estatestenants' association and other associations forpurposes connected with the performance ofthe functions of the Authority; and

(i) perform such other functions that areconducive to the attainment of the objects ofthis Act as the Minister may prescribe.

Function ofthe Authority

448 Supplement toOJJicial .Gasette

Powers of 5~ lTIhcAuihority-Sha.I11haVcCithcrpOWerStlleCeSSaIy;foftheAuthority 'or related -orinoidental totheipetfonnance;oHheAuihorityfs

functions.and .in;particular, ltheA.;\,fiholllt5'811alllhalv'c\the~pow-erto-

Powers ofthe Minister

'EstablishmentandCompositionofthc;l~oard

'(a) ilease limmo-vaokwrqpelW :hClonging ue [theA.utlIodtj'indiudin~·· ,micr.o-cntcljprci-sc;premises ;

'Jent ior <tdke,onlease:mIYiJlf0.pettly (on-sooh·tcmIS:anll\Goni:lrtioi1s~s1t\fuinks f4itt;

"i\\iith 'the100llBfll1t ~'frfu.e!Ministry lre&.~l;tle'for ttinance, ~etemiin.e ;aoo i{lotlect·lfires fiaT;faclliti,es tOr ,'SeMoes a'n:~viilac.d~toanAtiStnia1restates1(Yl"!f6r«J111e:itflli~0ses.;;arro

~d) ..n0 $t!C11 ,other .aots -or dhiqg:s "Which "llm!lV the'J1ecess30r:y tror :tl1e )Jeitl<llUllanae ·Glfiits~ ..

.6. The Minister ;may iis-sueifHjJic.u lairec~ iinwriting,t0ith.eAafhorityinttbe~m;m~functiom;<an(lthe c%ercis.e.n£its;p.owcrs.

!PAR.T m- \B{1lA\BD O1F1lJ!lE,All1JnamHW

JiOH:rJle~utkmiity $hUllibeman.~.re<I tby .a lBoara.oonsisting,ofthef<11lo.w.iQgpIll'l!0JlS-"-

;(:a~,,the SRIij~ $eor~t~.olf4h.e i~pa1!tIJUttor:M.ini.gqy.~~Btlil.eiforijnd~str.o/,'8tre1fiiim;

'(b) ,theiOhicllE~ti~mt.c6~:~"tef1ffiviu;

!~c9 :aa:e.pre8entati¥~;o~tr~~~~nek;hharrlbcnof,r~~lIndus@j'" -',

,- - ~ --)-I·.}~!i,Jq·;:

(ov ;a:1F4~erMtiM.e{6f'~· ~istw T-C&~cSlblefforlBmiif.tnm1Ul1t;

il(~) r "11~tm,itt€me;t0'f 1100 ?M:ut!'D' 'ref!p.1!IIHilljle" ~r~

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[18th November 2013J Supplement to Official Gazette 449~.~f) a representative of the Seychelles Licensing

Authority;

(g) a member of the Board of the Town andCountry Planning Authority establishedunder the Town and Country Planning Act;

(h) a representative of the Association of Tenantsand Lessees ofIndustrial estates; and

(i) a representative of the Ministry responsiblefor Land Transport.

(2) The Members referred to in subsection (1) (e) to (h)shall be appointed by the President by notice published in theGazette.

8. The functions of the Board sha 11 be to-

(a) approve the program of work of the Authoritywithin the framework of its general policy;

(b) appoint professional advisers wherenecessary:

(c) authorise the execution of documents,including agreements;

Cd) approve the management plans of industrialestates and micro-enterprise premises;

(e) approve projects for the development ofindustrial estates and' micro-enterprisepremises; and

(f) promote industrial estates and micro-ent.erprise premises, locally andinternationally, with the aim of attracting

. .investments.

Functions ofthe Board

450 Supplement to qfJicial Gazette

Chairpersonandsecretary

Tenure ofoffice.resignationand removalof Membersof the Board

9.(1) The Principal Secretary of the department orMinistry responsible for industry shall be the Chairperson ofthe Board.

(2) The Board shall appoint, from among the staff ofthe Authority, a.person to be secretary of the Board.

(3) The, secretary shall arrange the agenda and theBoard meetings, record the minuresof tfre meetings andmaintain all records relating to the activities conducted by theBoard and.such other functions assigltedby the Board.

10.(l) AMembershaUholdofficeforatermonhreeyearsand shall be digiblefofre"-appointmentatlnc'endofthe ternl 0foffice.

(2) A Member etherthan.the Chairperson or the ChiefExecutive Officer mayresignfro.mllis or her 3gpointmcmrbygiving three. months notice in writing to tJlC President andttansml~tM throughtheChairpcrson, andtheresignationshalltake effect from the date on which the President receives thenotice.

(3) The President may remove a Member fromoffice if the Member-

(a) is unable to perform the functions of theMember's office;

has been absent .for three consecutivemeetings of the Board without leave of theBoard;

';(c) hasneglectedth~dutiesofaMemher; or

. (d) is guilty of misconduct.

:. (4~;'Where aMemoertesignsorisremovedfromofiice.the' 'PteSiilent'shaH appofnta petsonful1oidoffice for theunexpiredterm of appointment of1hcoiltgoing Member and

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cause the name of the- new Member to be- published in theGazette.

(5) A Member who has been removed fi'0111 officeunder subsection (2) shall not be eligible forre-appointment,

11. A Member may be paid such remuneration as maybe determined by the President.

12. (1) The Board shall meet-

(a) at such times as the Chairperson -maydercnninesaud

(b) not less than six.times in any calendar year;

(2) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Boardmay regulate-its own proceedings.

(3) The Chairperson.shall preside at the meetings-oftheBoard and in the absence of the Chairperson, the Memberspresent shall elect from among themselves a Member topreside, and the Member may exercise, with respect to themeeting and any other business transacted at the meeting, allthe powers of the Chairperson.

(4) A decision of the Board shall be taken by a simplemajority of votes of'the Members present and votingexcept theChief Executive Officer or the Deputy Chief Executive Officerwho shan have no voting right, and in the case of an equality ofvotes, the Chairperson or the Member presiding shall exercise acasting vote.

(5) Five Members shall constitute- a quorum for anymeeting of the Board.

(6) An act, a decision' or proceeding of the Board shallnot be invalid by reason only of any vacancy in the membershipofthe Board, any defect ill the qualification or appointment of

Rcmuncrntion

Meetings ofthe Board

452 Supplement to Official Gazette [18th November 2013]

Co-optedperson 10advise (heBoard

Disclosureofinterest

ChiefExecutiveOJliccr

any Memberof the Board-orof any irregularity in convening ameeti ng of the Board. .

13;(1 ) The Board may co-opt a person to advise the Boardon matters of a technical nature having regard to the experienceor qualifications of the person.

(2) A personco-opted under.subsection (1) may. bepresent at any meeting of the Board but shall not vote on anymatter before the Board.

14. AMember who is directly or indirectly interested ina matter being dealt with by the Board sha11-· ,

(a) disclosethe nature of the Member's interestatthe meetingoftheBoard; and

(b) not take partin any deliberation or decision ofthe Board on the matter.

PART IV- ADMINISTRATION OF THE AUTHOR.ITY

15.(1 ) The President shall appoint.a person to be the ChiefExecutive Officer of the ·Auth()rity on such terms andconditions as the President may determine.

(2) Subject to the directions of the Board, the ChiefExecutive Officer shall -. . ., ..

(a) have. supervision ....and '.c()ntr~l,()verl anddirection of the adtninistrationarid day to dayaffairs of the Authority and its employees; and

(b) execute all documents on behalf of theAuthority.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer may delegate any orall of his or her powers under subsection (2) to ...the DeputyChief Executive. Officer,aMember ..oran.employeeof .theAuthority.

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1:.6.(1) The President may appoint a nepu~yChicf£-xecuiiv.e .Officer for suchterm and on such .conditions as uhePresident may.determine .

Deputy Chil-[Executive.Ofliccr

•(2) The'Deputy-Chief'Executive Officer shall-

,(a) dischargetheJunctionsoftheChi.ef.Executiv.e'Officer when theChiefExecutive ,OfflCCl" iisabsent on 'leave ordelegates them .to the~puzy,GhiefExectiti¥eO:fficcr;:and

(b) .perfbrm euch .other .£unctions .as may .he.assigncd tojnc D.q~ -Chicf Executivet0ffiecr:17ytbc:Soard.

117.:(,10 ,1f;hc Aufhoritymay.empl 03:SHOO lPer'Sons.necessary ';Employees' offeruhe ;Petifru:mance,dfthe.A:uthOlJiB-"s funcfiens, -on.snch uenns Authoritytand -conditions -consistenr with ;e~plqynrent .in uhe lP,libfic-service.

:(2) The,em,plQycesof the A.utl1~ shall .bcundcr the.aOniiriistrativ.econtrol,ofthe·ChiefEx.ec~v.e-Officer.

;PARa-V- FUNDS,AND.A.cC~I'.s:OF THEAUmOR'IlfY

il'8.(1) . The fundsofthe Authority -sluiJkonsist'o'fmoneys .Funds of the;appro.vcd:byanAp'prqpriationA.ctfor the.useoffhe.Anfhofity, :'\uihorily

(2) ThefundsoftheAuthoritysluillibeappfiedin-

(a) payment or,dischargemfdebts, expenses.andother-obligations of'the Authority; and

;(b!) :the .payment ((1f 'femun.etaiion 'af :the ChiefExecutive 'Ofticer, J!)~ ;Chief ExecutiveOfficer, ;Meniben; :ruuIanployecs -of iti1eAuthority .

. l;9~(r~.s.uq;oono subsection .(2),:1he -Ifuumcial yeari.tll1tlre Financial

Authon!y'fibaU.bethc.calendar.y.car. 'year

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Estimates

Accountsand audits

Protectionof acts donein goodfaith

Applicationofc\V!~inprovisionsofihe PenalCode

Supplement to Official Gazette [18th November 2013]

(2) The first financial year of the Authority shall end on31st December next following the date on whichthis Act coruesinto operation.

20.( 1) The Authority shall prepare estimatesof the incomeand expenditure of the Authority, including its capital budgetfor every financial year or such longer period as the Ministerresponsible for finance may from time to time reg uire.

(2) The Minister may, afterco!~sultation with thetvfil1ist~rresponsi?le for fiqanc~, approvethe estimates of theAuthorityandthe:estimates so apptovedsh~Il be the estimatesofthc Authotity, .. . ,'s

. ..2.1..•(1. )., TI..le.A..u.tl.....l.,o..rity....s..hall ...kee.p p.:r.OJ.'c.per...ac.c.....o..ll.nt.s. of'.theAuthority and otl1errelevant .recordsint~l11anl1~r p.pprovedby the Audit<;>fG~?eral andprepare in respectdf eac,h financialyear a statement of accounts. . .

(2) The accounts of the Authority-shall be. audited bythe Auditor General in accordance with Article 158 of theConstitution.

(3) The AuthoritYs4all send~ ~~pyof the auditedstatement of accounts of the Authority in respect of anyfinancial year.and ther~port,ofthe Auditor-General thereon tothe. Minister and •th~Mini$ter responsibI~:Xo~ ji.\W1cewithinone month of submission of the report by theAuditor-General.

PART VI·-,MISCELLA.N~·6{JS

22. .The. 13oaid, a¥c:mber, the,secreta,ry or an employeeof the Authority sna1'i not be civilly liable in respect of an actdonevor ()lnissionlUadeby theBoard,the:tylembcr, thesecretary Qfemp{OYee in good faith in the performance of thefuncti()nsofthe;Autbority under this Act.

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23.(1) All Members and employees of the Authority shallbe.deemed to be employed in thepublisserYice~fotthe purposeofsectionsvl t096 of the Penal Code. ',' .

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24.( 1) The Minister may make regulations for giving Regulationseffect to the provisions ofthisAct.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection(I),regulations may provide for-

(a) bye-laws for any purpose connected with thepowers and functions of the Authority underthis Act;

(b) fees or charges in respect of matters arisingunder or provided for or aurhorised by thisAct; or

(c) any matter which is required to be prescribedunder this Act.

25.(1) The Small Enterprise Promotion Agency may vestin or transfer to the Authority such -

(a) movable and immovable property vested inthe Small Enterprise Promotion Agencyimmediately prior to the coming intooperation of this Act; and

(b) assets, rights, interests, privileges, liabilitiesand obligations of the Small EnterprisePromotion Agency.

(2) Where a question arises as to whether a particularmovable or immovable property, asset, right, interest,privilege, liability or obligation has been transferred to orvested in the Authority under subsection (I), a certificate underthe hand of the Minister shall be conclusive evidence of thetransfer or vesting of the movable or immovable property,asset, right, interest, privilege, liability orobligation.

(3) Upon the commencement of this Act, allagreements, deeds, bonds or arrangements which fall withinthe scope of the objects and functions of the Authority, to which

Transfer ofassets andliabilities

456 !'JupplemenLto,Q{flciai Gazette

the Sinal! Enterpris-ePromotion Agency --is, a: party and:subsisting immediately prior to the 'date of coming intooperation of this Act shall continue in force, and shall he:enforceable-by oragainstthe.Authority as iftheAuthorily hadbeenaparty to such.deeds, bond,.agreementsorarrangements ..

(4) Subsection (3) shall not apply to leases of Slate'land! registered'underthe Land RegistrsriorrAcr 0\1- or-beforetliedatenfcoming.into operation of this Act.

Consequential Z6~cr)-,",1'he~mani~\1terpl'iseJ~f(nnotiQnAgencyAct,_200~Amendmenlsis,amendedinsection4:as,follows'-:'" '

(a) by repealingparagraphs(c)and (d};:and

(b) by re-numbering. paragraphs (e) and: 01} as"paragranhs,(~}and;(d),

(2) Any act falling within the scope of the repealedsection 4(C) or (4) .ef the Small Enterptise ProinotionAgency.

. ActshalI. frorn the commencement ofthis Act,' be continuedandcampletedby theAuthority.".

l' certify that this is a correct copyofthe Bill which waspassediby the NationalAssembly on.5th Noyember,2013~

AzareI:EmestaClerk to'theN~tio~alA.ssembly