Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a State visit to Seychelles, where he will participate in the island nation’s Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honour. The visit comes at the invitation of Seychelles President Patrick Herminie and is expected to further strengthen the long-standing partnership between the two countries.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold extensive discussions with President Herminie on expanding cooperation in areas including maritime security, economic development, digital infrastructure and regional collaboration. The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on key international and regional developments.
Apart from official meetings, the Prime Minister will address the Seychelles National Assembly and interact with members of the Indian diaspora, reaffirming India’s close cultural and people-to-people ties with the island nation.
India considers Seychelles a key strategic partner in the Indian Ocean region. The Ministry of External Affairs said the relationship is built on decades of friendship, shared history and cooperation, with Seychelles playing an important role in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR initiative and its broader engagement with the Global South.
The visit follows a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries in recent months. Seychelles President Patrick Herminie visited India earlier this year, where both sides agreed to expand cooperation in digital governance, public infrastructure and sustainable development. India also reiterated its commitment to supporting Seychelles in areas such as defence, maritime security, climate resilience, capacity building and inclusive economic growth.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had also recently met Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure, reaffirming India’s support for the country’s economic priorities and ongoing development initiatives.
Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles Rohit Rathish has indicated that both nations are expected to announce several new agreements during the Prime Minister’s visit. The discussions are likely to focus on emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, marine conservation, the blue economy and digital transformation, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between New Delhi and Victoria.
