$175-mn package for Seychelles: PM

India on Monday announced a special economic package of $175 million for Seychelles to support housing, health, defence and maritime security, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie explored ways to bolster trade, development cooperation and maritime security in the western Indian Ocean.

- Rezaul H Laskar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House on Monday.

(AJAY AGGARWAL/HT PHOTO)

Herminie, who was elected last October, arrived in India last week with a delegation that included seven ministers, senior officials, and business leaders for his first visit to the country. He initially travelled to Chennai, visited by many Seychelles residents for medical treatment, and Mumbai for business meetings, before arriving in Delhi.

During talks between Modi and Herminie on Monday, the two sides signed seven agreements for cooperation in areas such as pharmaceuticals, digital governance, ocean observation, data sharing and maritime scientific research, and training of Seychellois officials.

Modi, at a joint media interaction with Herminie, noted that Seychelles is an integral part of India’s Mahasagar vision and a trusted partner, adding the two sides had agreed to deepen economic cooperation by expanding trade in local currencies and collaborating in fintech and digital solutions.