India and Seychelles on Sunday announced a significant expansion of bilateral cooperation across defence, maritime security, digital payments, space, healthcare, agriculture, and education following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie in Victoria.
Key Agreements and Outcomes
The package of outcomes, announced after delegation-level talks during Modi's three-day state visit, underscores the deepening partnership between India and the Indian Ocean island nation. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the agreements included an extradition treaty, a pact on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, an agreement to advance UPI-based digital payments in Seychelles, an umbrella line of credit agreement with the Export-Import Bank of India, and an accord for preliminary preparations for a new Seychelles National Hospital.
Defence and Security Cooperation
On the defence and security front, India gifted a fast patrol vessel to Seychelles, handed over 10 utility vehicles and five patrol boats to the Seychelles Defence Force, and completed the refit of ship PS Zoroaster for the Seychelles Coast Guard. These measures aim to bolster Seychelles' maritime security capabilities in the strategically important Indian Ocean region.
Development and Digital Initiatives
Development initiatives included the handover of six ambulances, 500 metric tonnes of rice, and 8,500 metric tonnes of cement. The two sides also launched a commemorative logo to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations and held a virtual ground-breaking ceremony for a professional and technical education centre, the MEA said in a series of posts on X.
India and Seychelles signed an agreement between NPCI International Payments Ltd and the Central Bank of Seychelles to advance UPI-based digital payments in the island nation, deepening economic and technological cooperation. An agreement between HLL Lifecare Ltd and Seychelles' Health Ministry under the Jan Aushadhi scheme aims to improve access to good quality and affordable Indian medicines. Another memorandum of understanding provides for preliminary preparations for the new Seychelles National Hospital.
Diplomatic and Sectoral Agreements
The two sides also concluded agreements on diplomatic training between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and Seychelles' Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, agriculture research and education, recognition of training and certification of seafarers serving on Seychelles-flagged vessels, and cooperation in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, the MEA added.
Modi's Address to Seychelles Parliament
PM Modi on Sunday invoked the shared India-Seychelles ties while addressing the island nation’s Parliament in Victoria, referencing commonalities like “samosas, celebration of Diwali and garbha dance during Navratri”. Modi is the first Indian PM to address Seychelles Parliament and he referred to how Indians first arrived at the island 250 years ago. This was Modi’s 20th foreign Parliament address.
Modi is visiting Seychelles at the invitation of President Herminie and will take part in the country's National Day celebrations as the guest of honour. The announcements capped talks held during Modi's visit, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles, and covered a wide range of areas from security and development to healthcare, education, and digital connectivity.
