Victoria, June 29. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie on Sunday. During this meeting many MoUs were signed between the two countries. India and Seychelles exchanged Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to discuss agriculture, Exim Bank, outer space exploration and the new Seychelles National Hospital.
PM Modi said, “Thank you to Dr. Patrick Harmini, the delegations of both the countries and the media colleagues. I heartily congratulate President Harmini for this important welcome and hospitality. It is a matter of joy for me and 140 crore Indians to be honored by him with the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’. I humbly accept this honor and dedicate it to all those countries who are fighting the challenge of climate change and the environment. We consider conservation as our responsibility towards future generations.”
‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’ is the highest civilian and environmental honor bestowed by the Republic of Seychelles on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister said, ‘My visit comes on a historic occasion when Seychelles is completing 50 years of its independence. We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of India-Seychelles diplomatic relations. In this journey of 50 years, we have transformed friendship into trust, trust into cooperation and cooperation into public welfare.
He said, ‘The Indian Ocean has nourished the relations between India and Seychelles for centuries. Its waves have continuously nourished trade, culture and human relations between us. We believe that the Indian Ocean is our common home and that its security, stability and prosperity is our shared responsibility. This sentiment is the basis of our Ocean Vision. The joint vision released during the visit of President Dr. Patrick Hermini to India in February this year forms the blueprint for our future partnership. Moving forward on this, our cooperation is getting stronger in every field.
Discussion on making economic cooperation more flexible
He said, “Today we discussed how to make our economic cooperation more flexible. We will continue to explore new opportunities for the industries of both the countries. Work will also be done to increase connectivity between India and Seychelles. This will not only increase our trade, but will also strengthen relations with East African and Indian Ocean region. We believe that digital technology is an effective medium to bridge the gap between the two countries. We will share India’s successful experiences in digital public infrastructure with Seychelles.”
MoU also signed to implement UPI in Seychelles
PM Modi said, “We are happy that today an MoU is being signed to implement UPI in Seychelles. Development partnership has been a strong hallmark of our relations. India is always moving forward keeping its priorities, aspirations and needs at the center. During the President’s visit to India, we had announced a special economic package of 175 million dollars. Under this, work is being done in areas like social housing, transport, skilling, food security, education and defence. Cooperation in human resources development has been a special priority for India and I am happy that we are contributing to the training of civil servants of Seychelles.
The Prime Minister said, ‘Today virtual ground breaking of professional and technical centers is also being done. We believe that this center will give new heights to the self-confidence of the youth of Seychelles. Our partnership in the field of health has stood the test of time. We fulfilled our responsibility as a friend by supplying the vaccine during the difficult times of Covid.
PM Modi said, ‘The MoU signed today on Jan Aushadhi will help in providing quality and accessible medicines to the people of Seychelles. We will strive to further strengthen Seychelles’ medical care through capacity building and training. Our cooperation in energy and climate action is also continuously progressing. We will continue cooperation in the field of clean energy, including green hydrogen. We will share India’s expertise in ocean observation, marine science and coastal management with Seychelles.
He said, ‘Together we are moving forward in the field of space. An MOU was signed on this subject in both the countries. The defense and security of India and Seychelles are integral to each other. We will continue our close cooperation in this direction. The real strength of India-Seychelles relations is the connect of our people. Our discussions today will further strengthen this relationship.
Prime Minister Modi said, ‘We will move forward institutionally to increase cooperation between the players of the two countries. The popularity of Yoga and the Indian film industry in Seychelles reflects our cultural connect. In this spirit, we will continue efforts to increase contact between the people of the two countries. The message of my visit to Seychelles is clear that India envisions an Indian Ocean where maritime security is accompanied by economic prosperity, where our partnership is based not on size but on mutual respect and trust. Where we move together, not next to each country. The last 50 years of our relationship have been one of deep trust and shared progress. The coming 50 years will be one of innovation, sustainability and shared sovereignty. I once again express my gratitude for your friendship towards India and your unwavering commitment to our relations. Thank you all.
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