President Herminie Outlines Key Outcomes of India State Visit at State House Press Conference
Re-establishing and consolidating relations with India will play a pivotal role in advancing Seychelles’ development agenda, President Patrick Herminie said during a media briefing at State House on Tuesday, where he provided an overview of his recent six-day State Visit.
The visit, which came shortly after the President’s first 100 days in office, resulted in the signing of seven Memoranda of Understanding covering health, meteorology, digital transformation, ocean services, public sector capacity building, food procurement, and a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026–2030.
President Herminie said the agreements are aligned with the government’s objective to build competencies across ministries and agencies, while ensuring greater conformity and efficiency in service delivery systems.
A major outcome of the 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’ priority sectors, including public housing, infrastructure development, mobility, capacity building and maritime security.
Addressing questions regarding India’s interest in Seychelles, President Herminie underscored the country’s strategic position in the Indian Ocean. He noted that Seychelles is well placed for trade and maritime activities but faces challenges due to limited monitoring capacity. Illegal fishing, drug trafficking and human trafficking remain concerns, and strengthening border control and maritime surveillance is therefore essential. In this regard, Seychelles and India agreed to collaborate on the construction of a Coast Guard base to enhance national security.
The President clarified that no discussions were held during the visit concerning leasing of Assumption Island for a military base.
The President also indicated that discussions were held with Indian companies interested in supplying essential goods directly to the Seychelles Trading Company (STC), thereby eliminating intermediaries in the supply chain. Once finalised, this arrangement is expected to contribute to a reduction in the prices of essential commodities in the coming months.
For her part, the Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Veronique Laporte, highlighted plans to outsource 100 electric buses from India as part of efforts to modernise the public transport system and promote sustainable mobility. She said the introduction of the buses is expected to reduce the cost of public transportation to 6 rupees once they are operational within the fleet.
The Minister for Health, Marvin Fanny, provided an update on the proposed New Seychelles Hospital, which is to be constructed at Roche Caiman on the plot adjacent to L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa. The new facility, he said, will deliver modern, efficient and high-quality healthcare services to the population.
As part of the visit, Seychelles has also been granted 10 ambulances to strengthen emergency medical services, six of which will be equipped with advanced medical technology. Technical expertise has also been sought to train paramedics to ensure that first response care is administered effectively.
On the issue of the sale of 22 percent shares in Nouvobanq bank, President Herminie indicated that the matter will be subject to review to ensure that all established procedures were duly observed. He noted that, as the major shareholder, the government’s position is that it would ordinarily be afforded the opportunity to be informed and to consider any potential acquisition of shares in line with standard shareholder practices.
Other matters addressed during the briefing included compensation for CCCL victims, the hotel development project on Assumption island, European Union (EU) fisheries agreement with Seychelles and the importance of ensuring transparency in the appointment of the Mayor of Victoria.
President Herminie concluded the press conference by reiterating that the outcomes of the State Visit reflect Seychelles’ commitment to strengthening international partnerships and ensuring tangible benefits for its people. “This visit underscores our resolve to harness strategic alliances, deliver key development projects, and build a stronger, more resilient Seychelles for the future,” he said.
