Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Seychelles visit aims to deepen strategic ties, boost maritime cooperation and celebrate the island nation’s Golden Jubilee National Day as Guest of Honour, reports India Daily News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a State visit to Seychelles from June 27 to 29, where he will attend the island nation’s Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour and hold high-level talks aimed at further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The visit, at the invitation of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, comes as India and Seychelles seek to deepen cooperation in maritime security, economic development, digital transformation and regional stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
Ahead of the Prime Minister’s arrival, members of the Indian diaspora put up welcome posters across the Victoria-Mahe area on Thursday, reflecting the anticipation surrounding the visit.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi will hold bilateral discussions with President Herminie to review the full spectrum of India-Seychelles cooperation and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.
Besides official engagements, the Prime Minister will address the Seychelles National Assembly and interact with members of the Indian community.
Historic partnership
Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles Rohit Rathish described the visit as a landmark moment in bilateral relations, saying it marked another milestone in a relationship built over centuries.
“It is a historic milestone for both the countries,” Rathish said ahead of the visit.
Highlighting the longstanding partnership between New Delhi and Victoria, he said the two nations share deep historical, cultural and democratic ties.
“India and Seychelles enjoy very deep-rooted and historic ties with cultural affinities. We inhabit a shared region and also share the values of democracy and the rule of law. These are the anchors of our bilateral partnership,” he said.
Rathish noted that the relationship between the two countries predates formal diplomatic ties by centuries.
“Our destinies have been intertwined for 250 years. The bilateral partnership, the diplomatic relations, are but the latest chapter in this relationship,” he said.
Expressing optimism about the visit, the High Commissioner said both sides were looking to elevate cooperation to a higher level.
“We look forward to an intense period of bilateral relations, building upon our deep-rooted and historic ties and taking them to new heights,” he added.
Focus on security and development
The High Commissioner said several India-assisted projects in civilian infrastructure as well as defence and security are expected to be inaugurated during the visit.
“We are looking to hopefully inaugurate a few of the projects in both the civilian side as well as on the defence and security aspects as well,” Rathish said.
He also stressed that the visit would provide fresh momentum to defence and maritime cooperation in the strategically significant Indian Ocean region.
“With this visit, I think we will see a greater impetus on defence and security,” he added.
The MEA described Seychelles as one of India’s closest maritime partners and a key pillar of New Delhi’s Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which seeks to strengthen partnerships across the Indian Ocean while advancing the interests of the Global South.
The ministry said Modi’s visit would reaffirm the enduring friendship between the two countries and reinforce their shared commitment to expanding cooperation across all sectors.
Building on recent momentum
The visit follows a series of high-level engagements that have strengthened bilateral ties.
In April, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure on the sidelines of the 9th Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius, where he reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Seychelles in addressing its current economic challenges.
Earlier this year, President Herminie paid a six-day State visit to India, during which both leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in digital transformation, maritime security, defence, sustainable development and capacity building.
During that visit, India announced a Special Economic Package worth 175 million US dollars, including a 125-million-dollar Rupee-denominated Line of Credit and 50 million dollars in grant assistance for development projects, maritime security initiatives and training programmes.
Both countries also adopted the Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL), providing a roadmap for expanding cooperation over the coming years.
