The promoters behind The Eden Island project are expressing confidence that the venture will prove to be lucrative both for the investors and for the country as a whole. According to a spokesperson from Eden Island, villas, maisons and apartments constructed in the first phase are almost sold out.
The project is a first for Seychelles and will probably pave the way for similar development if it proves to be the success as being predicted by the people behind it. This project involves the construction of a total of 450 freehold apartments, maisons and villas with marina facilities built on 56 hectares of Private Island, including 16 hectares of private waterways. The apartments range in size from 89 to 214 square meters. The maisons range from 173 to 320 square meters on plots of 230 and 700 square meters respectively. The villas range from 250 to 600 square meters, on plots between 600 and 3000 square meters. In addition Eden Island will house a marina of international caliber with the capacity to handle super-yachts up to 85 meters in length providing all amenities, which includes electricity, water, network cables, plumbing facility, pumping equipment and service stations.
The island will also boast a clubhouse with private restaurant and bar, tennis court, gymnasium and a swimming pool. The commercial precinct will have a variety of shops including a convenience supermarket. It will also have its own banking facilities, laundry service, optometrist, dental services and other services, which one expect from a project of that magnitude. All in all Eden Island will be an island with the capacity to offer its inhabitants everything with the exception of sovereignty, which will still be maintained by the big boys on Mahe, but you never know, Mr. Heeger on seeing the jewel his company is creating, might not want it to be part of the crown, so to speak, changing his mind to rule over his own little kingdom, only time will tell. On a more serious note, the Eden Island project has the potential of placing Seychelles right up there with other major players competing for investors on the international scene. However, for investment to be positive and meaningful the natives must derive some direct benefit from it, which we all hope will be the case with the Eden Island project when it is finally completed…
Sales so far and other statistics:
PHASE 1 – As at 31st May 2008
. Apartments – 143 sold – total value - $68million
. Maisons – 41 sold – total value - $35million
. Villas – 47 total – total value - $63million
Nationality of purchasers
South Africa – 53% · Australia/Hong Kong – 1% · UK – 14% · Seychelles/Mauritius – 5% · UAE – 6% · France/Belgium/Netherlands – 14% · Other African countries – 1% · Russia/Poland – 3% · Italy/Spain/ Portugal – 3%
PHASE 2 – Final selling phase of Eden Island, set to be released to the public for purchase during final quarter of 2008.
Apartments – 87
Maison – 55
Villas – 17
Total Value of Phase 2 sales are projected at $150 million.
