Close friendship, understanding and cooperation characterize Indo-Seychelles relations. Though India established diplomatic relations with Seychelles only during its Independence in 1976, actual links between the two countries date back to the ancient past. An Indian naval ship INS Nilgiri was among those docked in Victoria harbour along with French, British ships heralding the Independence of Seychelles on 29 June 1976.

Indian Mission

The Indian Mission in Victoria came up in 1979 with the High Commissioner based in Dar-es-Salaam concurrently accredited to Seychelles. India’s first resident High Commissioner was placed in Victoria in 1987. In early 2008, Seychelles opened its own resident mission in New Delhi, with Mr. Dick Esparon (former MP) as its High Commissioner.

President’s Visit

H.E. Mr. James Alix Michel, President of the Republic of Seychelles visited India in August 2005 and gave a big impetus to the bilateral relations. During the visit, the President called for signing a comprehensive trade agreement on the lines of one that India has with Singapore and Mauritius to promote bilateral trade between the two countries. While addressing a business meeting with the Indian industry under the joint platform of the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in New Delhi, the President enlisted four key areas of joint cooperation including Tourism, Fishing, Petroleum Exploration and Communications. The President called upon the captains of Indian industry to explore business potential, which is in abundance in Seychelles because of its geographical position.

Visits from India

Then Vice President Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat visited Seychelles in September 2003 and announced a grant of US$1million as assistance for setting up mutually agreed projects. He also offered an additional grant of US$50,000 for supply of HIV-AIDS medicines. An Indian IT team visited Seychelles in 2007 and completed a feasibility study for setting up an IT Training Centre in Seychelles.

Seychelles has extended consistent and valuable support to India at various international fora, especially in favouring India’s candidature to various international bodies. In 2007, Seychelles supported the candidature of Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, High Commissioner of India to UK for the post of Commonwealth Secretary-General. It has unequivocally stated that it would support India for a permanent seat in the expanded UNSC.

Bilateral Agreements

Bilateral co-operation between the two countries is governed by the Joint Commission (JCM) on Economic and Technical Co-operation which has had six meetings so far. Besides the JCM, the other exchanges which took place over the Years were Air Services Agreement (1981); Agreement on Tourism (1996); Trade Agreement (2000); Joint Business Council (2000) and MoUs on Healthcare.

A Defence and Science & Technology agreement was signed during the visit of the Vice President of India to Seychelles in September 2003 along with a Cultural Exchange Programme (2003-05).

Defence cooperation between India and Seychelles has been evolving over the years. India gifted two Chetak helicopters in 1981 and extended ITEC assistance in the field of defence. A number of pilots from Seychelles have been trained in India. Indian naval ships and defence officers have been making regular goodwill visits to Victoria over the past several years.

Three Joint military exercises between the India Army and the Seychelles Peoples’ Defence Forces (SPDF) have taken place; first one in November 2001, second exercise in November 2004 and the last one in early 2008 at Seychelles. The exercises were specialized diving operations for anti-coup and anti-terrorism actions.

Education and Healthcare

The Seychelles’ Ministry of Education has included India as a destination for higher education for Seychellois students. A senior official-level delegation, led by the Principal Secretary, in Ministry of Education Ms. Macsuzy Mondon visited India in May’2004 to finalise the choice of Universities to which Seychellois students could be sent. From the Indian side, Educational Consultants India Limited (EDCIL), the nodal agency, offered its expertise in helping Seychellois students to get placement in appropriate educational institutions. More bilateral exchanges are likely as Seychelles is in the process of setting up its own University – a project launched recently by President Michel.

In March 2009, Seychelles got linked to a satellite network with India, which is called PAN African e-network that connects majority of healthcare centres in African countries with Indian hospitals of eminence to provide telemedicine and medical consultation services.

Cultural Exchanges

Various dance groups like Odissi, Bihu, Rajasthani, Goa folk/classical and Santoor, Violin, Sitar and Dhrupad groups have visited Seychelles from time to time. In addition, concerts, painting exhibitions, festivals, etc. were held over the years. Some of those in the last 3 years are highlighted below:

• The Goan troupe “Kepemchim Kirnnam” sponsored by the ICCR participated in the 30th anniversary celebration of Seychelles at the request of Seychelles Government in June 2006.

• The Maha Kumbabisheka Grand Cultural Show was organized by the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam at the International Conference Centre (ICCS) on 9th March 2008. About 75 participants took part in this grand cultural show. The Minister for Community Development and Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Vincent Meriton, was the chief guest of honour.

Trade and Investment

It was in 1978, Tata Exports helped in setting up the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) by providing 80 buses on commercial terms. Exports from India include agricultural and food items, consumer goods, textiles, building materials, drugs and pharmaceuticals etc. In terms of value, Indian exports to Seychelles stood at nearly US$15 million in 2007.

Bharti Telecom group (along with partners from Mauritius, UK and Seychelles) invested over US$25 million and established Airtel Seychelles in 1998, to provide a second line of telecom services in the country. Airtel, along with two other partners, also acquired Hotel Meridien Barbarons from the GOS controlled COSPROH in December 2003, which started operations in September 2005. The Bank of Baroda has been maintaining a branch in Seychelles since 1978 and it recently celebrated 30 years of its existence there.

Seychelles is a member of regional groupings of Africa like COMESA, ACP and AGOA.

Indian businessmen and companies can take advantage of this and explore the possibility of utilising the infrastructure of the Seychelles International Trade Zone to penetrate African, European and US markets.

The trade is expected to grow further with the revival of the private sector through the ongoing Macro Economic Reforms Programme. Negotiations on Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) and DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement) are in progress.

Indian Diaspora

In 2007, the local trading community of Indian origin established an Indo-Seychelles Chamber of Commerce, under the chairmanship of Mr. K.D. Pillay. Dr. V. Ramadoss, a leading PIO businessman and Physician to President Michel and Chairman of the Fund Raising Committee of the Seychelles University Foundation, donated SR 1 million as an opening contribution to President Michels’ project of setting up of the first University of Seychelles.

There have been waves of immigration and Indians, mostly from Tamil Nadu and of late Gujarat, to Seychelles decades ago, as workers, traders, construction workers and professionals. There are many Indian experts working in schools, hospitals, hotels, banks, financial establishments, parastatal bodies and ministries.