Victoria, Seychelles: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday embarked on a three-day State Visit to Seychelles, reaffirming India's commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with the Indian Ocean island nation while participating as the Guest of Honour at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Seychelles' National Day.

The visit, scheduled from June 27 to June 29, comes at a historic moment as Seychelles marks 50 years of independence and both countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, making the occasion particularly significant for bilateral ties. It also marks Modi's first visit to Seychelles since 2015, ending an 11-year gap between prime ministerial visits to the island nation.

Before departing, Prime Minister Modi described Seychelles as a "valued maritime neighbour" and a "key partner" in India's Vision MAHASAGAR and the shared commitment to advancing the interests of the Global South.

"This year, it is even more special because it is the Golden Jubilee celebrations," the Prime Minister wrote on X before leaving for the island nation.

High-Level Talks to Focus on Maritime Security and Regional Cooperation

A major highlight of the visit will be Prime Minister Modi's bilateral meeting with Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie, who had paid a State Visit to India earlier this year in February.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders will undertake a comprehensive review of the India-Seychelles partnership, covering maritime security, defence cooperation, development partnership, capacity building, connectivity, and regional as well as global issues of mutual interest.

Expressing optimism ahead of the discussions, Modi said he looked forward to meeting his "friend" President Herminie and further strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two nations.

The Prime Minister has also expressed confidence that the visit would deepen maritime cooperation while advancing the shared vision of a "secure, peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean region."

First Indian PM to Address Seychelles National Assembly

Another historic milestone during the visit will see Prime Minister Modi become the first Indian Prime Minister to address the National Assembly of Seychelles.

The address is expected to underline the growing strategic partnership between the two countries while reaffirming India's commitment to supporting Seychelles' developmental priorities.

Besides his parliamentary address, Modi is scheduled to interact with members of the Indian diaspora, recognising their longstanding contribution in strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.

"I am honoured to be addressing the National Assembly of Seychelles during the visit. I also look forward to meeting the Indian community there," Modi said before his departure.

Indian Community Gives Grand Welcome

The Indian diaspora in Seychelles has expressed overwhelming enthusiasm over the Prime Minister's visit, with several community members preparing cultural performances and traditional celebrations to welcome him.

Bharat Irani, who has been working in Seychelles for the past 15 years, said preparations had been underway for a long time.

"We are extremely excited. We will perform a dance at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister. It has been 11 years since he last visited Seychelles, and we had the opportunity to meet him then as well. As Gujaratis, we are all ready to welcome him. We call him India's 'Dhurandhar'," he said.

Another member of the diaspora, who has been residing in Seychelles since 2016, said this would be his first opportunity to see Prime Minister Modi in person.

He noted that Indians enjoy immense respect in Seychelles and that local residents warmly embrace Indian culture. He also expressed hope that the visit would pave the way for direct air connectivity between India and Seychelles while creating fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral relations.

A third community member from Gujarat said elaborate arrangements had been made from the airport to the Prime Minister's hotel, with cultural performances planned as part of the welcome celebrations.

Why Seychelles Holds Outsized Strategic Importance

Although Seychelles is geographically small, its strategic importance to India far exceeds its size.

The archipelago consists of 115 islands spread across the Western Indian Ocean Region, placing it at the crossroads of some of the world's busiest maritime trade routes connecting East Africa, West Asia, South Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Every day, these Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) carry commercial vessels transporting energy supplies, manufactured goods, food products and raw materials. Ensuring the security of these sea routes has become increasingly vital for India and other maritime powers dependent on uninterrupted global trade.

Adding to its strategic value, Seychelles exercises sovereign rights over an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) exceeding 1.3 million square kilometres, despite its relatively small land area. Monitoring and safeguarding this vast maritime domain presents significant challenges, making India's defence and security partnership with Seychelles particularly important.

The importance of the island nation has grown further amid increasing geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean, where expanding naval deployments, infrastructure investments and maritime influence have intensified over the past decade.

While neither India nor Seychelles positions their partnership against any particular country, China's growing economic footprint, port investments and expanding naval activities across the Indian Ocean have reinforced the strategic relevance of India's long-standing ties with Seychelles.

Unlike large-scale infrastructure competition, India has consistently positioned itself as a trusted development partner focused on institution-building, capacity enhancement, technical expertise and sustainable development.

Two Centuries of Shared History

The relationship between India and Seychelles predates formal diplomatic ties by nearly two centuries.

Historical records show that the first documented Indians arrived in Seychelles in 1770, when five Indians landed alongside seven Africans and fifteen French colonists as plantation workers.

During the British colonial period, Seychelles was administered from the Bombay Presidency for a time, while maritime trade routes facilitated movement between the two regions. Indian merchants gradually established themselves on the islands, laying the foundation for one of Seychelles' most influential communities.

Formal diplomatic relations began after Seychelles gained independence on June 29, 1976.

India played an important role during the island nation's transition to independence, with personnel from INS Nilgiri participating in the Independence Day celebrations—a tradition that continues through regular participation of Indian military contingents in Seychelles' National Day events.

India established its diplomatic mission in Victoria in 1979 before appointing its first resident High Commissioner in 1987. Seychelles later opened its resident mission in New Delhi in 2008.

Over the decades, bilateral ties have expanded steadily through regular high-level exchanges, political understanding and cooperation in security, governance, development and capacity building.

Building on the Momentum of the 2015 Visit

Prime Minister Modi's current visit builds on the foundation laid during his landmark visit to Seychelles in March 2015, which was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's visits in 1976 and 1981.

The 2015 visit resulted in the signing of four agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors. During that visit, Modi inaugurated the Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS) project, which has since become a cornerstone of maritime collaboration between the two countries.

India also gifted Seychelles a second Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft, significantly boosting the island nation's ability to monitor its vast maritime territory. Another people-centric initiative announced during the visit was a three-month gratis visa for Seychellois citizens travelling to India.

The current State Visit is expected to build upon these achievements while carrying forward the momentum generated by President Patrick Herminie's visit to India earlier this year.

From SAGAR to MAHASAGAR

A central theme of Prime Minister Modi's visit is India's evolving maritime doctrine.

When Modi unveiled the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision in 2015, it primarily focused on maritime security, regional cooperation and collective prosperity across the Indian Ocean.

Over the past decade, however, regional priorities have expanded to include climate resilience, renewable energy, digital connectivity, resilient supply chains, disaster preparedness, food security and sustainable development.

Reflecting these changing realities, India has broadened its approach through MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which integrates security with inclusive development across multiple sectors.

Seychelles has emerged as one of the strongest examples of this comprehensive partnership, with bilateral cooperation now extending beyond defence into renewable energy, digital governance, healthcare, fisheries, tourism, education, technology partnerships and institutional capacity building.

Defence Partnership Remains the Bedrock

For more than two decades, India has played a pivotal role in strengthening Seychelles' maritime capabilities.

Through Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems, India has enhanced Seychelles' Maritime Domain Awareness by enabling authorities to monitor vessel movements in real time.

India has also supplied interceptor boats, fast patrol vessels and Dornier surveillance aircraft to the Seychelles People's Defence Forces (SPDF), improving their capacity to combat piracy, illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, smuggling and other maritime crimes.

Indian Navy ships regularly conduct hydrographic surveys of Seychelles' ports and surrounding waters, producing updated nautical charts that improve navigation, maritime infrastructure planning and marine resource management.

Both countries have also intensified cooperation through the SESEL Joint Vision, which promotes intelligence sharing, maritime domain awareness, coordinated operations and efforts to maintain a free, open and rules-based Indian Ocean.

Digital Governance and Climate Cooperation Expand Partnership

India's globally recognised Digital Public Infrastructure—including Aadhaar, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and DigiLocker—has become an important area of collaboration with Seychelles.

Under the SESEL Joint Vision, both countries are exploring cooperation in digital identity systems, e-governance, electronic payments, cybersecurity and institutional capacity building.

Climate resilience has also become a major pillar of bilateral engagement.

As a Small Island Developing State, Seychelles faces growing threats from rising sea levels, coastal erosion and climate change. During President Herminie's visit to New Delhi earlier this year, India announced a Special Economic Package worth 175 million US dollars, comprising a 125-million-dollar Rupee-denominated Line of Credit and a 50-million-dollar grant.

The package will support Seychelles' Digital Public Infrastructure, secure digital payment systems inspired by India's UPI model, renewable energy projects and climate resilience initiatives under the International Solar Alliance.

Trade and Economic Ties Continue to Grow

Although Seychelles has a relatively small domestic market, bilateral trade has shown steady growth.

Between April 2024 and February 2025, India's exports to Seychelles were valued at approximately 68.64 million US dollars, while imports stood at around 8.69 million US dollars, taking total bilateral trade to nearly 72.92 million US dollars—an increase of almost 15 per cent.

India exports rice, processed food, cement, textiles, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and transport vehicles to Seychelles.

Indian businesses also have a long-standing presence in the island nation. Bank of Baroda has operated in Victoria since 1978, while Bharti Airtel has invested more than 25 million US dollars since entering the Seychelles market in 1998. Indian automobile manufacturers Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland supply a significant share of buses used in the country's public transport system.

A Vibrant Indian Community Strengthens People-to-People Ties

The Indian community remains one of the strongest pillars of India-Seychelles relations.

Today, Seychelles is home to nearly 15,000 Indians and people of Indian origin, including 6,000 to 10,000 Indo-Seychellois citizens, primarily from Gujarati and Tamil communities, along with more than 9,000 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) working on employment permits.

Over generations, the community has become deeply integrated into Seychellois society, contributing significantly to business, retail, healthcare, construction, governance and public administration.

Prime Minister Modi's interaction with the Indian diaspora during the visit recognises their enduring role in strengthening the friendship between the two countries across generations.

PM Modi to Meet Jonathan, the World's Oldest Living Land Animal

Apart from diplomatic engagements, Prime Minister Modi's itinerary includes a unique and symbolic event—a visit to the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, where he will meet Jonathan, officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living land animal.

Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is believed to have been born in 1832, making him around 194 years old.

Having lived through nearly two centuries of world history, Jonathan has witnessed remarkable historical transformations across generations. Despite his advanced age, he remains in good health due to dedicated veterinary care. Although he suffers from cataracts and has a diminished sense of smell, he continues to be one of Seychelles' biggest attractions.

Jonathan's extraordinary lifespan has also made him an important subject for scientific research into ageing and longevity.

During his visit to the Botanical Gardens, Prime Minister Modi will also participate in a tree plantation ceremony, symbolising environmental conservation and sustainable development.

A Visit That Looks Beyond Diplomacy

Prime Minister Modi's three-day State Visit reflects the transformation of India-Seychelles relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership encompassing defence, maritime security, digital governance, trade, climate resilience, renewable energy and people-to-people exchanges.

As both nations celebrate five decades of diplomatic ties alongside Seychelles' Golden Jubilee National Day, the visit is expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral cooperation while reinforcing India's Vision MAHASAGAR and its commitment to building a secure, peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean region.

With high-level talks, historic parliamentary engagement, interaction with the Indian diaspora and symbolic conservation initiatives, the visit underscores India's growing role as a trusted development partner in the Indian Ocean while highlighting Seychelles' enduring strategic importance in New Delhi's regional vision.

With inputs from agencies

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