Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the National Day celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Seychelles' independence on Sunday, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to be accorded the honour of Guest of Honour. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the milestone in a post on X by spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
First Indian PM as Guest of Honour
Jaiswal stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the National Day celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Independence of Seychelles as the Guest of Honour, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to be accorded this honour." An Indian marching contingent comprising Navy and Army teams participated in the parade, along with an Indian Naval band, underlining the close partnership between the two nations.
Naval Presence and Bilateral Talks
In a special gesture, INS Tarkash and INS Ikshak were docked at Port Victoria, highlighting India's longstanding friendship with Seychelles. PM Modi conveyed India's warm wishes to the people of Seychelles on this historic occasion. During his state visit, Modi held official talks with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations.
Areas of Cooperation
According to the MEA, the leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation across health, education, capacity building, digital transformation, sustainable development, social infrastructure, renewable energy, maritime security, and defence. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including challenges in the Indian Ocean region such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and piracy.
Commitment to Development
Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress of projects under the Special Economic Package announced by India. Prime Minister reaffirmed India's commitment to supporting Seychelles' development priorities and deepening the enduring partnership between the two countries.
