PM Modi will hold talks with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, address the National Assembly during his June 27-29 visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Seychelles from June 27 to 29 to attend the island nation’s Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Wednesday.
The visit comes at the invitation of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie and is expected to underline the strategic and development partnership between the two countries in the Indian Ocean region.
According to the MEA, an Indian defence contingent and two Indian Navy ships will also participate in the National Day celebrations. This will be Modi’s first visit to Seychelles since 2015.
High-level talks, National Assembly address on agenda
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will hold high-level talks with President Herminie to review the full spectrum of bilateral ties and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address the Seychelles National Assembly and interact with members of the Indian diaspora in the country.
In its statement, the MEA said India and Seychelles share a longstanding partnership rooted in historical, cultural and people-to-people ties. It described Seychelles as a key maritime partner in the Indian Ocean and an important pillar of India’s Vision MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
The ministry said the visit would reaffirm the enduring friendship between the two countries and strengthen efforts to expand cooperation across sectors.
Visit comes months after Seychelles President’s India trip
The trip follows President Herminie’s six-day state visit to India in February this year, during which the two sides reviewed the bilateral relationship and agreed to deepen cooperation in digital transformation and governance.
India had also committed support for developing Digital Public Infrastructure in Seychelles, including digital payment systems tailored to the island nation’s requirements.
Under the SESEL framework — the Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages — India reiterated its commitment to support Seychelles in areas such as sustainability, defence, maritime security, capacity building, resilience and inclusive growth.
During the February visit, India announced a Special Economic Package of USD 175 million for Seychelles. The package includes USD 125 million in rupee-denominated Line of Credit and USD 50 million in grant assistance for development projects, maritime security, capacity building and other sectors.
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