Modi Announces $175 Million Seychelles Development Package

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced a special economic assistance package worth $175 million for Seychelles following talks with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie in New Delhi. The announcement underscored India’s continued focus on strengthening ties with its key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region.

Focus on Development-Centric Cooperation

Speaking after the bilateral meeting, Modi said development cooperation remains the backbone of the India–Seychelles relationship. He emphasised that Indian assistance has been guided by the priorities and requirements of Seychelles. The newly announced package will fund projects in social housing, e-mobility, vocational training, health services, defence cooperation, and maritime security.

State Visit and High-Level Engagements

President Herminie is on a three-day state visit to India. Before arriving in New Delhi, he held multi-sectoral engagements in Chennai and Mumbai. These interactions covered governance, industry, coastal management, and the health sector, reflecting the broad scope of bilateral cooperation.

Strategic Context of Vision Mahasagar

The visit coincides with India’s efforts to advance its ‘Vision Mahasagar’, a strategic evolution of the earlier ‘Vision Sagar’ announced in 2015. Vision Mahasagar seeks to expand India’s maritime engagement into a wider global framework, with a strong emphasis on the Global South, economic prosperity, sustainability, and regional security. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who also met Herminie, highlighted Seychelles’ role as a valued maritime partner in this vision.

Important Facts for Exams

• Seychelles is a strategically located island nation in the western Indian Ocean.
• India first articulated ‘Vision Sagar’ for the Indian Ocean Region in 2015.
• ‘Vision Mahasagar’ expands India’s maritime outlook with a focus on the Global South.
• India has consistently supported Seychelles in defence and maritime security capacity-building.

Sectoral Cooperation Beyond New Delhi

In Chennai, Herminie and his health minister discussed long-term healthcare collaboration, including hospital infrastructure, digital health integration, and medical outreach. In Mumbai, meetings with Union ports and shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal and business leaders focused on maritime trade, the blue economy, and sustainable development, reinforcing the economic and strategic depth of India–Seychelles relations.