President Herminie Holds Bilateral Talks with India’s External Affairs Minister in New Delhi
The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr. Patrick Herminie, held bilateral discussions in New Delhi on Monday 8th Februry with India’s Minister for External Affairs, H.E. Dr. S. Jaishankar, as part of his State Visit to the Republic of India, undertaken at the invitation of the Prime Minister of India.
The meeting underscored the strong and longstanding partnership between Seychelles and India, with both sides engaging in substantive discussions on deepening cooperation in areas of shared priority, notably health, security and defence, capacity building, and regional stability.
President Herminie highlighted Seychelles’ keen interest in strengthening health cooperation with India. Discussions focused on the development of a modern, specialised hospital to enhance secondary healthcare services in Seychelles, with particular emphasis on identifying the most appropriate and sustainable model to meet the country’s long-term needs.
The President also welcomed India’s continued support in training and human resource development. Talks covered enhanced collaboration in capacity building at the university level, as well as expanded opportunities for Seychellois professionals to benefit from training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Both sides further explored the possibility of tailored, in-country training programmes in Seychelles, alongside specialised training opportunities in India, designed to address the needs of specific professional sectors.
In the area of security and defence, discussions highlighted the increasing volatility of the regional and global security environment over the past decade, particularly in relation to illicit maritime activities, piracy, and the protection of marine resources. The two sides stressed the importance of strengthened maritime surveillance and the safeguarding of Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which is vital to the country’s economic prosperity and environmental security.
Acknowledging that Seychelles’ security forms an integral part of India’s extended maritime security framework in the Indian Ocean, both sides reviewed ongoing and prospective areas of cooperation. These include support through the provision of defence equipment such as Dornier aircraft, fast patrol boats, and helicopters, which play a critical role in maritime surveillance, search and rescue operations, and the protection of Seychelles’ vast maritime domain. The discussions also emphasised the importance of deeper regional defence collaboration in line with Seychelles’ national priorities.
President Herminie expressed appreciation for India’s unwavering support to Seychelles across multiple sectors and highlighted the tangible impact of this partnership on national development and security. Minister Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to further strengthening its close ties with Seychelles, grounded in mutual trust, shared values, and a common vision for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean region.
