New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a State visit to Seychelles from June 27 to 29, during which he will participate as the Guest of Honour in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the country’s National Day.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi and President Herminie will hold high-level talks to review the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address the Seychelles National Assembly and interact with members of the Indian diaspora residing in the island nation.
The MEA stated that India and Seychelles share a longstanding partnership built on historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. As an important maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region, Seychelles occupies a special place in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and its commitment to the Global South.
The ministry noted that the Prime Minister’s visit will further strengthen the enduring friendship between the two countries and deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
The visit follows President Patrick Herminie’s six-day State visit to India in February this year, during which both leaders reviewed bilateral relations and agreed to work closely on digital transformation initiatives. India pledged support for the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Seychelles, including digital payment systems tailored to the country’s requirements.
Under the ‘Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages’ (SESEL), India and Seychelles have expanded cooperation in areas such as sustainable development, defence, maritime security, capacity building, resilience and inclusive growth.
India has also announced a Special Economic Package worth USD 175 million for Seychelles. The package includes USD 125 million in Rupee-denominated Line of Credit assistance and USD 50 million in grant support for development projects, capacity building, maritime security and other cooperation initiatives.
Earlier this year, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting Seychelles in addressing its economic challenges and welcomed progress in implementing the Special Economic Package.