President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr. Patrick Herminie, concluded his six-day State Visit to the Republic of India on 10 February 2026, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the Seychelles–India strategic partnership and securing substantial development support for the country.
The State Visit, held from 5 to 10 February 2026 across Chennai, Mumbai, and New Delhi, culminated in high-level engagements with the President of India, Her Excellency Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and the Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, underscoring the depth, maturity, and mutual trust that characterize bilateral relations.
On 9 February 2026, President Herminie held a bilateral meeting with President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a ceremonial reception and a State Banquet hosted in his honour. President Murmu warmly welcomed President Herminie on his maiden State Visit and reaffirmed the enduring bonds of friendship between the two nations, anchored in shared democratic values, pluralism, mutual respect, and strong people-to-people ties. She highlighted the historical and cultural linkages between Seychelles and India, as well as their shared maritime heritage across the Indian Ocean.
Discussions focused on advancing the strategic partnership, with emphasis on sustainable development, climate resilience, maritime security, and cooperation in the blue economy. President Murmu reiterated India’s readiness to continue supporting Seychelles’ development and security priorities as a close maritime neighbour and trusted partner within the Indian Ocean Region.
President Herminie expressed appreciation for India’s longstanding and consistent support across key sectors, including infrastructure development, healthcare, capacity building, defence cooperation, and education. He noted that the visit further consolidated bilateral cooperation under India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR visions, which align closely with Seychelles’ national priorities and its commitment to regional stability and sustainable ocean governance.
President Herminie also paid a courtesy call on the Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, reflecting the breadth of high-level institutional engagement during the visit. Both leaders underscored the importance of sustained parliamentary and institutional exchanges, particularly as Seychelles and India commemorate 50 years of diplomatic relations.
Their discussions highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation in education, youth development, innovation, and capacity building, recognizing human capital as central to sustainable economic growth. They further emphasized continued collaboration within multilateral and regional platforms to address shared global challenges, including climate change, maritime security, and the resilience of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
A major outcome of the State Visit was India’s announcement of a Special Economic Package valued at USD 175 million, comprising a USD 125 million rupee-denominated Line of Credit and USD 50 million in grant assistance. The package will support Seychelles’ development priorities, including public housing, infrastructure, mobility, capacity building, and maritime security.
The two sides also adopted the India–Seychelles Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages, establishing a forward-looking framework for cooperation across maritime security, defence, the blue economy, renewable energy, healthcare, digitalisation, higher education, hospitality, and regional stability in the Indian Ocean Region.
As President Herminie returned to Seychelles, he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to translating the outcomes of the State Visit into tangible and measurable benefits for the Seychellois people. The visit stands as a defining milestone in Seychelles–India relations, reinforcing a trusted strategic partnership anchored in shared values, development cooperation, and a common vision for a secure, resilient, and prosperous Indian Ocean region.
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