Rohit Rathish Accredited as 19th Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles

VICTORIA, Seychelles — Rohit Rathish has been accredited as the new High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, presenting his credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House on Tuesday morning. He is the 19th high commissioner accredited to Seychelles since the two countries established diplomatic relations in June 1976, succeeding Kartik Pande who held the post from November 2022.

Speaking to local media after his meeting with the Head of State, Mr Rathish said he was deeply honoured to take up the new responsibility and thanked the President for welcoming him at short notice. ‘India and Seychelles are very close partners. We are maritime neighbours and we have deep interests and stakes in each other’s security. Over the decades, we have worked to strengthen our relationship across multiple facets, including social structure, infrastructure, technology, and more,’ he said.

He described his exchanges with President Ramkalawan as warm, cordial and fruitful, noting that flight connectivity between India and Seychelles has improved in recent times and that strengthening this connectivity will form part of his agenda. He also emphasised support for key sectors such as tourism, on which the Seychelles economy remains heavily dependent.

Mr Rathish said his focus will be as broad as the relationship itself, covering health, education, social infrastructure, public transport, digital public infrastructure, climate change, sustainable development, maritime trade and maritime security. He also met Vice-President Ahmed Afif and on Monday paid a courtesy call on Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde, with further calls on other senior officials planned in the coming days.