Seychelles committed to further strengthening economic engagements between India-Seychelles: Dr Patrick Herminie, President, Seychelles
February 06, 2026
India–Seychelles Business Forum Marks 50 Years of Bilateral Relations and Expanding Economic Engagement
CHENNAI, 06 February 2026: His Excellency Dr. Patrick Herminie, President of the Republic of Seychelles, today while addressing the ‘India-Seychelles Business Forum’ reaffirmed the longstanding and strategic nature of bilateral relations, describing them as time-tested, rooted in shared history, and forward-looking in ambition. He appreciated India’s consistent partnership and reconfirmed Seychelles’ commitment to further strengthening cooperation and deepening economic engagement between the two countries.
Mr Pierre Laporte, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Trade, Finance and Investment, highlighted the steady growth in bilateral trade and India’s role as a key supplier of construction materials, essential goods, and the importance of expanding collaboration across priority sectors such as infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, digital technologies, and sustainability to fully realise the untapped potential of the partnership.
Mr Suresh Gopi, Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India, underlined the strategic importance of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean region and the deep maritime, cultural, and people-to-people links between the two nations. He highlighted India’s strengths in infrastructure, healthcare, digital innovation, and human capital, and emphasised the need for closer cooperation in tourism, blue economy, logistics, and capacity building to further strengthen bilateral ties and promote shared prosperity.
Mr Vijay Sankar, Senior Vice President, FICCI & Chairman, The Sanmar Group, highlighted partnership between India and Seychelles, and underscored Seychelles’ strategic importance for India in the Indian Ocean region and as a bridge to Africa, and noted the complementary development priorities of both countries, including India’s strengths in manufacturing, services, infrastructure, and digital economy, and Seychelles’ focus on the blue economy, sustainable tourism, connectivity, and resilience. Emphasising opportunities under India’s MAHASAGAR vision, he pointed to potential collaboration in renewable energy, digital technologies, infrastructure, green mobility, education, and the blue economy.
India-Seychelles Business Forum, organised by FICCI on the occasion of the official State Visit of His Excellency Dr. Patrick Herminie, President of the Republic of Seychelles, marking 50 years of bilateral relations between India and Seychelles. The Forum brought together over 45 Indian CEOs and Chairpersons of leading Indian companies to explore new avenues for trade, investment, and sectoral collaboration with Seychelles.
The Hon’ble President was joined by the First Lady and a high-level ministerial delegation comprising Mr. Barry Faure, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora; Mr. Pierre Laporte, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, Trade, Finance and Investment; Dr. Marvin Fanny, Minister of Health; Mr. David Pierre, Minister of Education; Ms. Veronique Laporte, Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and Ports; Ms. Marie-May Jeremie, Minister of Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources; and Mrs. Amanda Bernstein, Minister of Culture and Tourism. The forum underscored the strength of the India-Seychelles economic partnership and reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to translate shared priorities into concrete and mutually beneficial outcomes.
As part of the India-Seychelles Business Forum, a dedicated CEOs’ Roundtable was also organized.