LUSAKA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Seychelles has been readmitted to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), adding the number of SADC members to 15, Zambia Times reported on Saturday.

    Zambian President and SADC Chairman Levy Mwanawasa was quoted as saying that leaders of the regional bloc decided to readmit the Indian Ocean archipelago country after their close-door discussion of the two-day SADC summit.

    The decision came as SADC has recorded brighter economic performance in the last two years.

    Seychelles, a nation composed of 115 islands mainly reliant on the tourism industry, quit SADC in 2003 as it plunged into depression after September 11 terrorist attack resulted in sluggish tourist and tuna sectors.

    The economic slowdown was allegedly worsened by the subscription fee to the regional political and economic club. SADC members need to contribute 500,000 U.S. dollars annually to the regional cooperation body.

    But the pullout didn't stop the country's development downturn, said the report.

    According to the CIA on-line world fact book, Seychelles' economy declined by about 2 percent in 2004 and 2005 and it was still negative in 2005/2006.