India, Seychelles boost ties across 19 sectors
India and Seychelles on Sunday unveiled 19 key outcomes following delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, significantly expanding bilateral cooperation across defence, maritime security, digital payments, healthcare, education, agriculture, and space.
The wide-ranging package of agreements reflects the growing strategic partnership between the two countries and underscores New Delhi’s commitment to strengthening ties with the strategically located Indian Ocean archipelago through enhanced security, connectivity, capacity building, and development cooperation.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the outcomes include an extradition treaty, an agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, a pact to introduce Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-based digital payments in Seychelles, an umbrella Line of Credit agreement with the Export-Import Bank of India, and a memorandum for preliminary preparations for a new Seychelles National Hospital.
As part of defence and maritime cooperation, India announced the gifting of a fast patrol vessel to Seychelles and handed over 10 utility vehicles and five Laser Radial-class boats to the Seychelles Defence Force. The two sides also marked the completion of the refit of the Seychelles Coast Guard vessel PS Zoroaster and the upgrade of a Dornier aircraft with a modern glass cockpit.
India further reaffirmed its development partnership by handing over six ambulances, 500 metric tonnes of rice, and 8,500 metric tonnes of cement to Seychelles.
The two countries also unveiled a commemorative logo celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and virtually inaugurated the construction of a Professional and Technical Education Centre.
In a major step towards financial connectivity, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International Payments Ltd. and the Central Bank of Seychelles signed an
agreement to facilitate Unified Payments Interface-based digital payments in the island nation, aimed at strengthening economic and technological cooperation.
Healthcare collaboration was also expanded through an agreement between HLL Lifecare Ltd and the Seychelles’ Ministry of Health under India’s Jan Aushadhi initiative, which seeks to improve access to affordable, quality medicines. Another memorandum provides for the initial planning and development of the proposed Seychelles National Hospital.
