Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Secretary General Iouana Pillay has stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit from June 27 to 29 for Seychelles' 50th Independence celebrations will significantly enhance trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the two nations.
Visit Reflects Deep Historical and Business Ties
Speaking to ANI, Pillay described the visit as "extremely important" for Seychelles, highlighting India's longstanding role as a key trading partner and close friend. She noted, "Seychelles has been trading with India for many years, and we have been a partner with India as well, and we are also family."
Pillay emphasized strong people-to-people connections, pointing out that many Seychellois, including herself, have Indian roots. "There are a lot of Indian natives; I myself, my family background is from India. So we are very proud, and this occasion is very prestigious for us here in Seychelles," she added.
Private Sector Eager to Deepen Cooperation
The private sector in Seychelles is keen to expand collaboration with India not only in trade but also in skills development and other areas where India possesses significant expertise. Pillay noted that Seychelles has already signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with India during a recent visit, covering agriculture, health, trade with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and digitalisation.
Regarding expectations from the visit, Pillay said it would showcase the strength of bilateral ties and create opportunities for greater collaboration. "From this visit, it's showing our strength between the two countries and also displaying how much we've grown together, Seychelles and India, and how much more we can continue to grow," she stated.
Potential for Boost in Trade and Investment
Expressing optimism about future economic ties, Pillay remarked that the visit could significantly boost trade and investment. "Seychelles is a very small island, and we depend a lot on imports. So I see that there's a great possibility for us to strengthen the trade between the two countries, identify the gaps, and find ways how we can mitigate together," she said.
She identified aquaculture, renewable energy, digitalisation, tourism, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and training as sectors offering major opportunities for Indian businesses. "There are a lot of opportunities...It's just a matter of connecting with the right businesses from India and connecting them with our local businesses here in Seychelles," she added.
Business Community Eager for Partnerships
Pillay also noted that Seychelles' business community is eager to expand partnerships with Indian companies, particularly in retail, wholesale, and construction. She acknowledged the contribution of Indian expatriate workers to the country's economic development through construction of buildings, offices, and hotels.
On strengthening economic cooperation, she stressed the need to align investments with Seychelles' development priorities while working closely through both governments and the Chamber of Commerce. "It's about understanding the priority of Seychelles, what it is that we need, and working through the government, as well as the strong partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, for us to map out strategically the priorities of Seychelles and how we can collaborate with India more," she explained.
Digitalisation and Training as Key Areas
"As mentioned, digitalisation is one of the biggest in pharmaceuticals as well as in other training for agriculture. And it is, I think, our visit that we had this year already shows that we would like to strengthen our partnership and collaboration with India. So this is already one step ahead, and I congratulate both governments for taking this initiative," Pillay said, adding that the inclusion of the private sector in the official delegation marked "one big leap" for business collaboration.
Confidence in Growing Bilateral Ties
Looking ahead, Pillay expressed confidence that bilateral business ties would continue to expand. "I can see the ties are growing very strongly because Seychelles is a very strong economy, and we are a growing economy, and definitely, there are lots of opportunities despite other hurdles around the world. Seychelles still remains very safe for doing business," she concluded.
