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Modi and Seychelles team up for blue economy and climate aid. Not just fish & ships

PM Modi's historic visit addresses the unique climate vulnerabilities of the archipelago while securing strategic sea lanes of communication.

The friendship between India and the Seychelles received a boost this week as Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded a three-day state visit. In a warm gesture symbolising the two countries’ long friendship, the PM fed Jonathan, the iconic 196-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise, believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal. He also addressed an extraordinary sitting of the National Assembly of Seychelles, becoming the first Indian prime minister to do so. The key outcomes of Modi’s state visit were a $175-million development package, the signing of nine wide-ranging agreements, and a significant boost to maritime security cooperation.

The mitrata or friendship between the two countries is rooted in history, while remaining relevant to the challenges of the future.

The historic trip also coincided with Seychelles’ 50th National Day celebrations, marking a crucial step under India’s MAHASAGAR vision for the Indian Ocean region.

Why Seychelles matters

The Seychelles is an archipelagic nation of 116 islands situated off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is the smallest country in East Africa, with a population of approximately 100,000  as of 2022. It remained largely uninhabited until the 18th century, when it was claimed by the French, who brought in African, Arab and Indian labour to work the plantations. When the British took control in the early 19th century, indentured labour was brought in from India. The Seychelles became independent from the British in 1976, and has since moved from a largely agrarian economy to a market and service-based economy which is quite heavily dependent on tourism. From 1976 to 2015, the GDP grew by almost 700 per cent.

The Seychelles is separated from Mumbai by about 3,800 km, and a non-stop Indigo flight operates from Mumbai to Mahé, the largest and most populous island in the........

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