Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start his official state visit to Seychelles from today, June 27. PM Modi will take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country’s National Day as the ‘Guest of Honour’. Prime Minister Modi is undertaking this visit at the invitation of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie.
Bilateral talks with President Herminie
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during this visit, Prime Minister Modi will review all aspects of cooperation between the two nations with President Patrick Herminie and hold discussions on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Modi will also address the National Assembly of Seychelles and interact with the Indian community residing there.
Seychelles is a key partner in the Indian Ocean region
The MEA stated that India and Seychelles share a long-standing partnership rooted in shared history, culture, and strong people-to-people ties. As a key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean region, Seychelles holds a special place in India’s ‘Vision Sagar’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and its commitment to the ‘Global South’. According to the Ministry, Prime Minister Modi’s visit will further strengthen the enduring friendship between the two countries and provide new momentum to bilateral cooperation across all sectors.
Bilateral cooperation has increased in recent months
Earlier, in April, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Seychelles’ Foreign Minister Barry Faure during the 9th Indian Ocean Conference held in Mauritius. He assured Seychelles of India’s support in tackling current economic challenges and welcomed the steps taken towards implementing the special economic package.
In February, Seychelles President Patrick Herminie visited India on a six-day official trip. During that visit, President Herminie and Prime Minister Modi discussed all aspects of bilateral relations and agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of digital transformation. Focus on Cooperation in Digital Infrastructure and New Sectors
India had agreed to assist in the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)—including digital payments—tailored to Seychelles’ needs. Under the ‘Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth, and Security through Enhanced Connectivity’ adopted by both nations, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s commitment to remaining a trusted partner for Seychelles in areas such as sustainability, defence, maritime security, capacity building, resilience, and inclusive growth.
Potential Announcement of Several Agreements
India’s High Commissioner to Seychelles, Rohit Rathish, stated that the relationship between India and Seychelles is dynamic and robust. Both countries are exploring ways to enhance cooperation in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), cyberspace, cybersecurity, marine science and conservation, and the blue economy.
He noted that several agreements are expected to be signed and significant announcements made across various sectors during Prime Minister Modi’s visit. Highlighting President Patrick Herminie’s visit to India in February and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s visit to Seychelles last October, he remarked that these exchanges have imparted fresh momentum to high-level bilateral engagements.
