India and Seychelles have signed a Special Economic Package worth $175 million to support the development needs of the Republic of Seychelles. This package was announced during a meeting in New Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and President Patrick Herminie of Seychelles. The agreement aims to help Seychelles in areas like public housing, transport, infrastructure, capacity building, and maritime security.

Under the agreement, the two countries also signed several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to work together more closely in various fields. These MoUs were signed with the goal of strengthening economic cooperation and addressing the priorities and needs of Seychelles.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Along with increasing trade in local currencies, we will also collaborate on fintech and digital solutions.” He emphasised that the development partnerships between India and Seychelles have always been a strong base for the relationship. He added, “All our efforts are based on Seychelles’ priorities and needs.”

President Patrick Herminie also spoke during the event and invited Prime Minister Modi to be the Guest of Honour for celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence, which also marks the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Herminie pointed out that economic support and cooperation were the main topics during their discussions.

One important MoU that was signed will allow Seychelles civil servants to receive training in India. According to Prime Minister Modi, this training initiative will create employment and skill development opportunities, especially for young people in Seychelles. He said that India’s ITEC program has played a significant role in building capacity in Seychelles.

Modi also explained the long history of connections between India and Seychelles. He said, “The relationship between India and Seychelles is not limited to diplomatic contacts alone.” He pointed out that for many years the waves of the Indian Ocean have connected the peoples of both countries through trade, culture, and trust.

Beyond this, India and Seychelles plan to expand cooperation in several other important areas. Both leaders discussed working together on renewable energy, resilience and climate adaptation solutions. They also talked about infrastructure development and making it easier for investments to grow in Seychelles.

They also agreed to strengthen ties in tourism, education, and sports, and to focus on increasing exchanges between young people from both countries. During their talks in New Delhi, they talked about sustainable transport, climate-resilient infrastructure, electric mobility, and clean public transport systems.

In his remarks, President Herminie highlighted that tourism is a main part of Seychelles’ economy and said that India was becoming a growing market for tourists, helped by better air connectivity. He said, “As Indian Ocean states, maritime security and regional stability remain central to our relationship... Tourism remains a cornerstone of the Seychelles economy, and India represents a growing market supported by improving air connectivity.”

Prime Minister Modi also stressed the importance of the blue economy and maritime cooperation, saying, “As maritime neighbours, the blue economy is a natural area of cooperation for us... Together, we will shape not only bilateral cooperation but also a shared future for the Indian Ocean region.”

The two leaders signed an MoU on digital transformation, which will allow India to share its successful digital solutions with Seychelles. This is part of a wider effort to give their technological partnership a futuristic direction.

President Herminie also noted India’s increasing role in health diplomacy and said that India’s sharing of medical expertise, institutional partnerships, and specialised care has helped people in Seychelles.

Prime Minister Modi said that the growth of India–Seychelles relations is built on strong people-to-people ties. He pointed out that the Indian community living in Seychelles has made important contributions to the social and economic life of the country.

Finally, both countries released the India-Seychelles Joint Vision document, which will serve as a roadmap for future cooperation. Prime Minister Modi said, “Today's meeting clearly shows that the partnership between India and Seychelles is entering a new phase.”

This special economic package and the set of MoUs reinforce the ongoing partnership between India and Seychelles, showing a shared commitment to development, security, and long-term cooperation.