Seychelles President Patrick Herminie will make his first official visit to India next week, according to reports in Indian media. The visit is expected to highlight growing ties between the two Indian Ocean nations.
Dr Herminie is scheduled to arrive in India on 5 February. He will travel to Chennai and Mumbai. He will then head to New Delhi, where his main engagements are set for 9 February.
The visit follows the attendance of India’s Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan at Dr Herminie’s inauguration in Victoria. During that visit, an official invitation was extended on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Dr Herminie to travel to India.
Both governments have said they intend to deepen bilateral cooperation. Priority areas include health, education, defence, maritime security, trade, and capacity building.
Indian media reports say Prime Minister Modi sent a message of congratulations to Dr Herminie shortly after the election result was announced. He referred to the shared heritage of the Indian Ocean region and said he was confident relations would continue to grow under the new administration.
India and Seychelles have a long history of engagement. Prime Minister Modi visited Seychelles in March 2015. This year also marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Cooperation has included humanitarian assistance, such as recent donations of pharmaceuticals from India to Seychelles’ hospitals. The two sides have also worked together on maritime domain awareness.
Defence and maritime security remain key areas of cooperation, reflecting the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean for regional trade routes. Trade, technology, and capacity building are also expected to feature prominently during the visit.