President Herminie Received Credentials of the Ambassador of Switzerland and Reaffirmed Commitment to Enhanced Bilateral Cooperation
The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, yesterday received the Letters of Credence of His Excellency Stephano Toscano, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Seychelles, during an official ceremony held at State House.
President Herminie warmly welcomed Ambassador Toscano and conveyed his sincere congratulations on his appointment. The President reaffirmed Seychelles’ appreciation for the longstanding cordial relations between the two countries and expressed confidence that the Ambassador’s tenure would further consolidate and deepen bilateral cooperation.
In the ensuing discussions, both sides underscored their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration in areas of mutual interest. Particular emphasis was placed on disaster risk management. President Herminie highlighted the importance of building national resilience through enhanced training and capacity development for Seychellois citizens. He noted that strengthened institutional and technical capabilities would not only benefit Seychelles domestically but also position the country to contribute meaningfully to regional and international initiatives in disaster preparedness and response.
Education was also identified as a key pillar of cooperation. The President acknowledged Switzerland’s globally respected higher education institutions and expressed interests in expanding opportunities for Seychellois students to pursue advanced studies in Swiss universities. In this regard, Ambassador Toscano indicated that Switzerland offered scholarship programmes within the African region and committed to confirming Seychelles’ eligibility and providing further information in due course.
The Blue Economy, a central component of Seychelles’ national development strategy, featured prominently in the dialogue. President Herminie reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the sustainable use and management of ocean resources and expressed appreciation for potential Swiss support in strengthening innovation, sustainability practices, and technical expertise within this sector.
The President also addressed the issue of drug abuse, describing it as one of the significant social challenges currently facing Seychelles. Drawing from his official visits to Europe, including Switzerland, President Herminie noted the comprehensive and structured strategies employed to combat drug use and trafficking. He emphasized the value of evidence-based approaches that integrated prevention, public health measures, rehabilitation, and effective law enforcement.
