VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Dominican Republic has accredited its first ambassador to the Republic of Seychelles, with Resno Antonio Herrera Franco presenting his credentials to President Patrick Herminie at State House this week in a ceremony that officials on both sides described as a milestone in bilateral relations.
Herrera Franco, who will be based in the United Arab Emirates, also paid courtesy calls on Vice-President Sebastien Pillay, Speaker of the National Assembly Hon. Azarel Ernesta, government officials and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. He met separately with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Barry Faure, at the Maison Quéau de Quinssy, where a range of bilateral matters were discussed.
President Herminie welcomed the new ambassador and congratulated him on becoming the first Dominican Republic envoy accredited to Seychelles, describing the appointment as an important milestone in strengthening ties between the two countries. The President reaffirmed Seychelles’ commitment to deepening cooperation with the Dominican Republic in areas of mutual interest, ranging from trade and tourism to sustainable fisheries, marine conservation, agriculture, sport and health.
Diplomatic relations between the Dominican Republic and Seychelles were established on September 23, 2008, but until this week’s accreditation the two countries had not exchanged resident heads of mission. The move signals an intention by both governments to convert a long-paperwork relationship into something more substantive, particularly at a time when small island developing states are looking for partners with shared experiences of climate vulnerability and economic concentration in tourism.
During their discussions, both leaders identified opportunities to strengthen cooperation in trade, sustainable fisheries, tourism, marine conservation, agriculture, sport and health. Recognising the common opportunities and challenges faced by small island developing states, they emphasised the value of sharing expertise and advancing practical cooperation for the mutual benefit of both nations.
Tourism featured prominently in the talks. President Herminie noted that tourism remains one of the main pillars of Seychelles’ economy and expressed the government’s interest in concluding a visa waiver agreement between the two countries. Such an agreement, he said, would facilitate greater people-to-people exchanges and further strengthen bilateral ties. The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX) has in recent years signed a number of bilateral tourism and visa arrangements with Caribbean and African partners, reflecting a wider push to expand the country’s diplomatic footprint beyond its traditional sphere.
Speaking to the press after his accreditation, Ambassador Herrera Franco noted that another area of discussion was medical training, pointing to a highly regarded Dominican university that prepares students for the United States in English. He said there is a possibility of quality education in this area and that he is excited about the shared knowledge between the two countries.
The ambassador also announced plans to meet with members of the Seychelles Hotel and Restaurant Association, noting that the relationship between countries is built not only by government but by the private sector. He concluded that strengthening ties between the Dominican Republic and Seychelles requires active participation from both governments and the private sector, an approach that aligns with the Dominican Republic’s tourism diversification strategy, which has been actively courting new source markets in Africa and Asia in recent years.
While acknowledging that geographical distance remains a challenge, the ambassador expressed confidence it can be overcome through strong, well-prepared projects. He stressed that the main obstacle is not funding, but rather the need for good ideas that both countries can implement together.
The accreditation comes against a wider backdrop of Seychelles strengthening its diplomatic ties across the Caribbean and Latin America, where shared vulnerabilities as small island states and common interests in ocean governance and climate resilience provide a natural platform for cooperation.
Sources cited: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic (MIREX), about page. Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic (MITUR), about page. State House news, Seychelles.
Source: SN
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