Victoria:
During talks with Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan Herminie, Modi described development cooperation as the defining feature of bilateral ties, saying India’s partnership is guided by the priorities and aspirations of its partner countries. The package, announced during President Herminie’s visit to India earlier this year, will support projects in social housing, transport, education, skill development, food security and defence.
The two leaders also virtually launched the construction of a Professional and Technical Centre, which Modi said would boost skills, employability and self-confidence among Seychellois youth. India will also continue supporting the training of Seychelles’ civil servants.
Strengthening healthcare cooperation, the two countries signed an MoU on the Jan Aushadhi initiative to provide affordable, quality medicines in Seychelles. Modi said India would further support the country’s healthcare system through capacity building and training, recalling New Delhi’s vaccine assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defence and maritime security remained central to the discussions, with Modi stating that the security of India and Seychelles is “inextricably linked”. The leaders also agreed to expand cooperation in clean energy, including green hydrogen, climate action, the Blue Economy, marine science, coastal management and space, with a separate MoU signed for space collaboration.
Highlighting digital connectivity, Modi welcomed the signing of an agreement to introduce India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Seychelles, saying it would strengthen trade, tourism and regional connectivity with East Africa and the wider Indian Ocean region.
Emphasising India’s maritime vision, Modi said the Indian Ocean should become an “Ocean of Opportunity” under India’s MAHASAGAR doctrine, where security and economic prosperity advance together through partnerships based on mutual respect rather than size or power. He said the Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL), adopted during President Herminie’s February visit to India, provides the roadmap for future bilateral cooperation.
Addressing the National Assembly of Seychelles later in the day, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the country’s legislature. Marking Seychelles’ 50th Independence Day celebrations, he described the Indian Ocean as a bridge connecting the two nations rather than separating them, and said the relationship was built by generations of people long before formal diplomatic ties were established.
Recalling that five Indians were among the first settlers to arrive in Seychelles in 1770, Modi said the deep historical links between the two countries continue to shape a partnership founded on trust, shared values and a common vision for a secure, sustainable and prosperous Indian Ocean.