New Delhi: In a major expansion of bilateral relations in the western Indian Ocean, India and Seychelles on Sunday announced nineteen significant outcomes following comprehensive delegation-level talks. The high-level dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie resulted in a broad package of agreements spanning maritime security, space exploration, digital financial technology, healthcare, and educational capacity building. The agreements reflect New Delhi’s growing engagement with the strategically positioned archipelagic nation, coinciding with the historic fiftieth anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between the two democracies.
A cornerstone of the economic and technological outcomes is a landmark pact to introduce India’s Unified Payments Interface system to Seychelles. Signed between NPCI International Payments Limited and the Central Bank of Seychelles, the initiative aims to advance digital payment infrastructures and seamlessly integrate economic transactions between the two countries. On the security and legal front, the two nations successfully concluded a bilateral extradition treaty, while establishing a framework for peaceful space exploration through a specialized outer space cooperation agreement. To support major infrastructural developments, India extended an umbrella line of credit through the Export-Import Bank of India and finalized initial preparations to support the construction of a state-of-the-art Seychelles National Hospital.
Maritime security and defense capabilities received a substantial boost during the bilateral talks. The Indian government formally gifted a modern fast patrol vessel alongside ten utility vehicles and five Laser Radial class boats directly to the Seychelles Defence Force. Furthermore, New Delhi announced the successful completion of a comprehensive technical refit for the patrol vessel PS Zoroaster and a major upgrade for Seychelles’ Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft, equipping it with an advanced glass cockpit. These assets are expected to significantly scale up the island nation’s anti-piracy and Exclusive Economic Zone patrolling capabilities.
The development partnership also emphasized critical humanitarian and community welfare support. India handed over six advanced medical ambulances, 500 metric tonnes of rice, and 8,500 metric tonnes of construction cement to support local infrastructure projects. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that a virtual ground-breaking ceremony was conducted for a new Professional and Technical Education Centre in Seychelles. Additional pacts were sealed under India’s Jan Aushadhi scheme via HLL Lifecare Ltd. to provide affordable, high-quality Indian medicines, alongside separate agreements focusing on agricultural research, diplomatic training at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service, and mutual recognition for the certification of commercial seafarers.
