Although it's the first time that business premises have been included in the National Beautification Campaign, the organising committee says it is satisfied and impressed with the high quality of participation in this segment.

Out of the 24 participating business premises from Mahe and Praslin contesting the different categories, seven winners have already been selected. They will be presented with their prizes on July 19 during the award presentation ceremony to take place at the Botanical Gardens.

The President's trophy will be awarded to the first prize winner of each category, namely large hotels, small hotels, restaurants, flats and apartments, retail outlets and takeaways, non-retail premises and factories (governmental) and non-retail premises and factories (non-governmental). The runner-up of each category will receive certificates of recognition.

Previously the competition had only six categories, but the non-retail premises and factories have been further broken down to include the government and non-governmental categories to give the offices from the public sector the chance to participate.

Mr Cedrick Thomas, a member of the organising committee, says several businesses taking part in the competition have made remarkable efforts to improve their general surroundings.

The business category was introduced as part of the government's effort to broaden the national campaign which was previously targeting homes and specific areas in the districts and to encourage businesses to make lasting impressionable improvements to their environment by beautifying their landscape and construct attractive buildings.

The campaign, he says, has generated great interest from the business community, but admits that many have not been able to participate because they have not been well prepared.

Happy that the campaign has attracted businesses from Praslin, Mr Thomas observes that several businesses on La Digue also have the potential to participate.

He anticipates greater participation next year now that several businesses are already preparing for the competition.

He says that as businesses begin to realise the importance of the beautification campaign, in the long-run this will help give Seychelles a more professional look with work areas more conducive to increased productivity and safer for employees and members of the public.

Next year's business beautification campaign will be officially launched at the award presentation ceremony.

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