Your Excellency, Dr. Patrick Herminie,
Distinguished delegates of both countries,
Friends from the media,
Namaskar,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome President Herminie and his delegation to India.

On his election as the President of Seychelles, I extend heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to him on behalf of 1.4 billion people of India.

This is his first visit to India as President. His visit is taking place in an auspicious year, as Seychelles celebrates its 50th Independence Day and we commemorate the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. I am confident that these milestones will continue to inspire us to reach new heights together.

Friends,

India and Seychelles share a relationship that extends far beyond diplomatic engagement. The waves of the Indian Ocean have connected our peoples for centuries. Along its shores, trade between our nations has grown, cultures have converged, and traditions of trust have continued to strengthen.

India and Seychelles are connected not just by geography, but by history, trust and a shared vision for the future.

Our bond spans the past, the present, and the future. As a maritime neighbour and a trusted partner, Seychelles is an integral part of India’s MAHASAGAR Vision. Our cooperation encompasses the maritime, land, and air domains.

In today’s discussions, we charted a path to further strengthen this partnership. We agreed to continue exploring new opportunities to deepen our economic cooperation.

Alongside expanding trade in local currencies, we will also advance our collaboration in FinTech and Digital Solutions.

Development partnership has been a strong pillar of India-Seychelles relations. All our efforts have been guided by the priorities and requirements of Seychelles.

Building on this direction, today we are announcing a Special Economic Package of 175 million dollars. This package will support concrete projects in areas such as social housing, E-mobility, vocational training, health, defence, and maritime security. These initiatives will create new employment and skill opportunities for the people of Seychelles, especially for the youth.

India’s ITEC programme has played an important role in capacity building in Seychelles. I am pleased that an MoU is being signed today for the training of civil servants from Seychelles in India.

Through close cooperation in the field of technology, we are giving our partnership a futuristic direction. An MoU on Digital Transformation is also being signed today, under which we will share India’s successful experience with Seychelles.

In the health sector, India has been a steady and reliable partner for Seychelles. We will continue to work together with Seychelles in the supply of affordable, quality medicines, medical tourism, and the development of health infrastructure.

In the areas of energy and climate, our cooperation is guided by a shared commitment to sustainable development. We will further expand our collaboration in renewable energy, resilience, and climate-adaptive solutions.

Friends,

As maritime neighbours, the Blue Economy is a natural area of cooperation for us. We will share India’s expertise with Seychelles in areas such as marine research, capacity building, and data sharing.

Defence cooperation and maritime security are important pillars of our partnership. We welcome Seychelles as a full member of the Colombo Security Conclave. This will strengthen our mutual coordination and reinforce efforts to ensure peace and stability in the Indian Ocean.

Together, we will shape not just bilateral cooperation, but a shared future for the Indian Ocean.

Friends,

The greatest strength of India-Seychelles relations lies in our people-to-people ties. The Indian community in Seychelles has made a remarkable contribution to the country’s social and economic life. At the same time, they have strengthened our friendship across generations.

Today, we discussed ways to further strengthen these ties through tourism, education, culture, and sports. We will place special emphasis on increasing exchanges between the youth of both countries.

Friends,

Today’s meeting makes it clear that the India-Seychelles partnership is entering a new phase. To advance cooperation across all sectors, we are issuing the India-Seychelles Joint Vision today. This Vision will serve as a roadmap for our collaboration in the years ahead.

Excellency,

Once again, I express my heartfelt gratitude for your visit to India and for your unwavering friendship and commitment towards India.

Thank you very much.

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MJPS/VJ/ST