Strategic location to connect Asia, Africa, Middle East: Seychelles' envoy hails PM Modi's recent visit
New Delhi, July 4
High Commissioner of Seychelles to India, Harisoa Lalatiana Accouche, on Saturday hailed the successful visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Seychelles and underlined the importance of the island nation as a strategic location for Indian businesses to expand their footprint into Africa and West Asia.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the 17th Toy Biz International B2B Expo 2026 in New Delhi, she recalled PM Modi's visit and said, "It was a big honour for Seychelles to have Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week as our guest of honour for the 50th anniversary of Seychelles' independence celebrations. It was not only a visit but also a way to further strengthen relations between Seychelles and India, which are based on historical links."
The envoy underlined how the ties go beyond diplomacy and are also rooted in people-to-people connections.
"The visit was a great success, and we look forward to building on it."
Noting that while Seychelles is largely import-dependent, she urged Indian businesses and investors to identify the location as a key pillar to expand trade and commerce.
"Seychelles is a small nation; we produce little and import most of what we need. Prime Minister Modi encouraged us to expand trade and commerce between our countries and encouraged Indian investors and businessmen to come to the Seychelles. Despite being small, we are a strategic location in connecting Africa, Asia and the Middle East," Harisoa Lalatiana Accouche said.
"We are going to solidify not only business but people-to-people ties," she added.
After concluding this three-day state visit to the East African island nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the past fifty years of diplomatic relations marked by "deep trust and shared progress" between the two nations while noting that the next fifty years of India-Seychelles relations would be defined by "innovation, sustainability and shared prosperity".
During his visit, India and Seychelles also signed 19 memoranda of understanding (MoU) and agreements, including an extradition treaty to combat transnational crime and development assistance.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to see India strengthening ties with Seychelles. It's not just about business; people-to-people connections matter a lot. The extradition treaty is a smart move to tackle crime. But I hope our investments there also benefit local communities, not just Indian companies.
Seychelles is a gem in the Indian Ocean. With China trying to expand influence in the region, India's proactive diplomacy here is critical. Kudos to PM for making this visit happen. The 50th anniversary invite shows how much they value us.
Happy to see India's foreign policy focusing on smaller nations too. Seychelles might be small, but its location is incredibly important. The mention of 'innovation and sustainability' for the next 50 years is inspiring. Let's hope our businesses take note!
This is a classic example of India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies working together. Seychelles as a hub for Indian trade in Africa makes perfect sense. But we must ensure the extradition treaty is implemented properly to avoid misuse. Overall, a win-win.
As an Indian businessman, this is exciting news. Seychelles could be a gateway to East Africa. The envoy's call for Indian investors is exactly what we need. Let's hope the government also provides incentives for SMEs to explore opportunities there. 👍
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