President of Seychelles Patrick Herminie, on a five-day visit to India, arrived in Mumbai today along with First Lady Veronique Herminie. The Seychelles President met Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and later attended the India-Seychelles Business Roundtable organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Addressing the meet, Herminie said India-Seychelles relations have strengthened over the past 50 years and his country looks forward to expanding cooperation.

He said Seychelles views India with great respect, noting its position as the world’s fourth-largest economy. Sonowal said the two countries share a trusted partnership based on people-to-people ties and maritime links, which has expanded to include cooperation in healthcare, education, maritime security and disaster response. He said growing trade, Indian investments, direct Mumbai-Mahe connectivity and India’s port-led development initiatives are creating new opportunities for economic and strategic cooperation.

Seychelles Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Minister Barry Faure and Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment Minister Pierre Laporte were also present, along with business leaders from both sides.