VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 27 (ANI) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Seychelles capital of Victoria on Saturday, beginning a three-day State Visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between India and the Indian Ocean nation.
Upon his arrival at Seychelles International Airport, Prime Minister Modi was accorded a warm welcome by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, setting an enthusiastic tone for the visit.
Shortly after landing, Modi expressed optimism about the visit, saying he looked forward to expanding cooperation between the two countries.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister thanked President Herminie for the warm reception and described Seychelles as a “valued maritime partner” and a close friend in the Indian Ocean.
“Deeply appreciate the warm welcome extended at the airport by Dr. Patrick Herminie. Seychelles is a valued maritime partner and a close friend in the Indian Ocean. Looking forward to a productive visit aimed at further strengthening our longstanding ties and enhancing cooperation for the benefit of the people of our nations,” Modi wrote.
The Prime Minister also shared photographs from his arrival on X and expressed gratitude to members of the Indian diaspora who gathered at the airport to welcome him.
“Here are some glimpses from the warm welcome at the airport in Seychelles. Thankful to the Indian diaspora for the affection,” he wrote.
The enthusiastic reception highlighted the strong people-to-people ties between India and Seychelles as the Prime Minister commenced his official visit.
The visit coincides with a significant milestone for Seychelles, with Prime Minister Modi attending the country’s Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations as the Guest of Honor, marking the 50th anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom in 1976.
Before departing for Seychelles, Modi noted on X that this year’s visit was especially significant because of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
He also described Seychelles as a “valued maritime neighbor” and emphasized its important role in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR and New Delhi’s efforts to advance the interests of the Global South.
A key focus of the visit will be bilateral talks with President Herminie.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders will review the full spectrum of India-Seychelles cooperation, including maritime security, development partnership, capacity building, and strategic defense collaboration. They will also discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Ahead of the talks, Modi said, “I look forward to discussions with my friend, Dr. Patrick Herminie, President of the Republic of Seychelles.”
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address the National Assembly of Seychelles, highlighting the longstanding partnership between the two nations.
“I am honored to be addressing the National Assembly of Seychelles during the visit. I also look forward to meeting the Indian community there,” Modi said.
The MEA said the Indian Ocean region remains central to India-Seychelles relations. The two democracies share longstanding historical, cultural, and economic ties, and the visit is expected to further strengthen the bilateral partnership while opening new avenues for cooperation. It marks Prime Minister Modi’s first official visit to Seychelles since 2015. (ANI)
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