Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie on Sunday (June 28) announced 19 key outcomes to further strengthen bilateral ties, covering areas such as defence, maritime security, digital technology, space cooperation, healthcare, agriculture and education.
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PM Modi was also honoured by Seychelles with the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ title for his environmental leadership and advocacy for Small Island Developing States.
Among the major outcomes announced, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), are an extradition treaty, a pact for cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space, an agreement to facilitate UPI-based digital payments in Seychelles, an umbrella line of credit arrangement with the Export-Import Bank of India, and a framework to begin preliminary preparations for a new Seychelles National Hospital.
Strengthening bilateral ties
The two sides also announced the gifting of a fast patrol vessel to Seychelles, the handover of 10 utility vehicles and five Laser Radial class boats to the Seychelles Defence Force, the completion of the refit of PS Zoroaster for the Seychelles Coast Guard and the upgradation of a Dornier aircraft with a glass cockpit.
Other development initiatives included the handover of six ambulances, 500 metric tonnes of rice and 8,500 metric tonnes of cement, the launch of a commemorative logo marking 50 years of diplomatic relations and the virtual ground-breaking ceremony for a Professional and Technical Education Centre, the MEA said in a series of posts on X.
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An agreement between HLL Lifecare Ltd. and Seychelles’ health ministry under the Jan Aushadhi scheme aims to facilitate access to good quality and affordable Indian medicines, while another memorandum of understanding provides for preliminary preparations for the new Seychelles National Hospital, the MEA said.
UPI push
The two countries also signed an agreement between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International Payments Ltd. and the Central Bank of Seychelles to advance UPI-based digital payments in the archipelagic nation and deepen economic and technological cooperation.
The two sides also concluded agreements on diplomatic training between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and Seychelles’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, agriculture research and education, recognition of training and certification of seafarers serving on Seychelles-flagged vessels, and cooperation in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space, the MEA added.
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The outcomes were announced after delegation-level talks between Modi and Herminie during the prime minister’s three-day state visit to Seychelles, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The prime minister, who is undertaking the state visit at the invitation of President Herminie, will participate in the National Day celebrations of Seychelles as the Guest of Honour.
Highest honour
Modi was conferred with the honorary ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ title by the Seychelles’s President Herminie. This is the first such honour bestowed by the nation for his steadfast commitment to environmental conservation and advancing the aspirations of the Small Island Developing States. This is Modi’s 34th international honour from a foreign nation.
Dedicating the honour to the nations fighting the challenges of climate change, Modi said, “I humbly accept this honour and dedicate it to all those countries that are fighting the challenge of climate change and consider environmental protection their responsibility towards future generations. This is a pressing challenge which we have to overcome together.”
MEA said Mission LiFE, Name of a tree motherInternational Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Big Cat Alliance are some of the initiatives taken by PM Modi in this direction.
(With agency inputs)
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