New Delhi: PM Modi is on a tour of Seychelles these days. Here he participated in many functions. Meanwhile, discussions were held on many important issues between PM Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie. During this, India and Seychelles announced 19 agreements and initiatives on Sunday. This will increase cooperation in areas ranging from defense and maritime security to digital payments, space, healthcare, agriculture and education. These agreements and initiatives reflect New Delhi’s growing cooperation with the Indian Ocean island nation in the areas of security, connectivity, capacity building and development partnership.
UPI will get a boost in Seychelles
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), these agreements include an extradition treaty, an agreement on cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, an agreement to promote UPI-based digital payments in Seychelles, an umbrella line of credit agreement with the Export-Import Bank of India and an agreement for preliminary preparations for the new National Hospital of Seychelles.
Seychelles will be given Rs 1,250 crore
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a press conference that the Rs 1,250 crore umbrella line of credit, which will be denominated in Indian rupees, will help fund priority development projects in Seychelles. The Ministry of External Affairs said the two sides also announced the gift of a fast patrol vessel to Seychelles, handing over of 10 utility vehicles and five Laser Radial class boats to the Seychelles Defense Force, completion of refit of PS Zoroaster for the Seychelles Coast Guard and upgrading of Dornier aircraft with glass cockpits.
Agreement reached on several development initiatives
Other development initiatives include the handing over of six ambulances, 500 metric tonnes of rice and 8,500 metric tonnes of cement, the launch of a commemorative logo to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations and a virtual foundation stone laying ceremony for the Professional and Technical Education Centre, the Ministry of External Affairs said in several posts on X. Misri said Indian paramedics have also reached Seychelles to train the technicians there and help integrate the ambulance into the country’s healthcare system.
Indian medicines will be easily available
The two countries also signed an agreement between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) International Payments Limited and the Central Bank of Seychelles. Its objective is to promote UPI-based digital payments in this island nation and to deepen economic and technological cooperation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the agreement signed between HLL Lifecare Limited and the Ministry of Health of Seychelles under the ‘Jan Aushadhi Scheme’ is aimed at making good quality and affordable Indian medicines easily available. Additionally, another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) provides for initial preparations for the new Seychelles National Hospital.
India will help in agriculture, education and training of sailors
The Ministry of External Affairs further said that both sides also finalized several more agreements. These include diplomatic training between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Seychelles; agricultural research and education; To recognize the training and certification of seafarers serving on Seychelles-flagged ships; and cooperation in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space. Additionally, Misri said President Harmini had put forward a proposal seeking India’s help in setting up a cyber security and Artificial Intelligence (AI) center in Seychelles and providing ‘advanced light helicopters’.
50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries completed
Misiri said Prime Minister Modi welcomed these proposals and indicated that India would consider them “with a very positive mindset”. He also said that both sides will discuss further in this regard. The results were announced after delegation-level talks between Modi and Hermini during the Prime Minister’s three-day state visit to Seychelles. This visit is taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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