DAKSHIN

Seychelles

Bilateral Diplomatic ties were established in 1976. India considers Seychelles a close maritime neighbour and a trusted and reliable strategic partner. Seychelles regards India as an all-weather friend. The main areas of cooperation are developmental partnership, defence, security and strategic cooperation led by India. Seychelles also supports Indian candidatures in various multilateral forums.

Indian HC Dr. Ausaf Sayeed donated 10 light vehicles to Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF). It comprises 4 TATA Safari Storme & 6 TATA Zest Cars. He handed over the keys to Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Col Clifford Roseline

• India has extended humanitarian assistance of 50,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) to Seychelles to fight the pandemic in January 2021.

Mr. Gino Leon from Public Utilities Corporation(PUC) Seychelles is visiting India for the ITEC Course

Mrs. Eugenie Khani and Mrs. Begguita Labrosse from University of Seychelles and Mrs. Kethleen Harrison from STA, proceed to National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research in India for an ITEC Course.

Romainville Solar Power Plant inaugurated in 2021 built by India: a future for energy democratization in Seychelles.

Donation of medicines under Mission SAGAR: part of COVID relief in addition to vaccine doses. India exhibiting its role as ‘Pharmacy to the World.’

Supplying 14 Ambulances to strengthen the health infrastructure of Seychelles. More such procurements planned in future.

H.E. Mr Jean François Ferrari, Designated Minister & Minister for Fisheries & Blue Economy, Seychelles at India Energy Week in Bengaluru India.`

Nurturing the Youth of Seychelles: High Commissioner Pande awarding the bright students from Seychelles who took part in the Youth Exchange Programme in India in 2022.

Celebration of 58th ITEC Day on theme

India and Seychelles signed 2 MoUs with Ministry of Lands and Housing and Ministry of Local Government. These MoUs pertain to 3 High Impact Community Development Projects worth SCR 3.5mn aimed to benefit the local community.

High Commission handed over anti- Tuberculosis drugs to Seychelles Healthcare Agency.

Essentials donation drive by INS Suvarna at President’s Village Orphanage. Meals Ready-to-Eat, provisions, linen and stationary were gifted to the children.

Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic

India has extended humanitarian assistance of 50,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) to Seychelles to fight the pandemic in January 2021 under ‘Vaccine Maitri’ program. Prior to that Seychelles also benefited from Mission Sagar.
Under India’s Mission Sagar, Seychelles received two consignments (in April and June 2020) of essential goods on ‘grant basis’ including food items, COVID-related medicines including HCQ tablets and special Ayurvedic medicines. India also donated two ‘air evacuation pods’, indigenously designed by the Indian Navy, to the Health Care Agency (HCA), Seychelles to help in its urgent medical evacuations.
India’s role as the first responder in the region has been reaffirmed and built on the friendly relations existing between India and Seychelles to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant difficulties.

Capacity Building & Other Exchanges

It has been estimated that over 1% of the local population form part of ITEC alumni who have so far benefited from various training courses under the ITEC program. Since 2014, over 600 Seychellois have completed ITEC courses.
In 2023-24, 29 ITEC civil slots and 40 ITEC defence slots were utilized by Seychelles. In addition to this, special courses for training diplomats and high-level professionals are also provided to Seychelles separately as well as under ITEC-executive. Seychelles has also participated in training programmes in India under Quad and CDRI frameworks.
Other recent exchanges include annual participation of a 10-member youth delegation from Seychelles at the NCC Youth Exchange Program and artisan delegations to the Surajkund International Craft Mela every year.

Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)

An MoU on Small Development Projects (Phase-II) and another on cooperation in Youth and Sports were signed in November 2023.
Several Indian Grant projects were inaugurated in April 2021, including New Magistrates’ Court Building (USD 3.5 million), gifting of PS Zoroaster (USD 15 million) and handing over of a 1 MW Solar Power Plant on Romainville Island.
In 24 projects ranging from repair of school facilities, upgradation of amenities for disabled, construction of roads and other civic infrastructure have been completed and further 04 projects are nearing completion in Phase 1 of High Impact Community Development Projects. 4 Methadone Vans for drug mitigation efforts have also been inaugurated on 07 July 2023
A Grant of USD 25 million utilised for procurement of various equipment and projects, and of the LOC of USD 50 million was announced during the Presidential visit in 2012. Procurement of 60 Ashok Leyland buses as part of USD 10 million LoC to Seychelles is on-going.
IT Centre for Excellence set up in Victoria with GOI assistance.
Twenty light vehicles worth USD 433,000 were gifted to the Seychelles People’s Defense Forces (SPDF) and Narcotics wing of Seychelles Police during 2017 and 2018 under special grants.
Cash grants given of USD 3.5 million for the procurement of 71 buses and 6 light vehicles for Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC), USD 385,000 for the procurement of 10 Ambulances and USD 4,704,135 for the Restoration Project of CSRS Station in different islands all across Seychelles.
In August 2021, ICT tools comprising Computers, TV Monitors, High Speed Scanners, etc. at a cost of about USD 72,000 were given to set up a learning centre under University of Seychelles.
A second Dornier aircraft was handed over to the former President of Seychelles, Mr. Danny Faure at the Indian Naval Air Station, New Delhi in June 2018. The first Dornier was handed over to Seychelles in 2013.