India-Seychelles Relations

India-Seychelles Relations refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Seychelles.

India-Seychelles relations were in the news recently when Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high level virtual event on 9th April 2021, with President of Seychelles Wavell Ramkalawan where 10 high impact community projects were inaugurated.

This article will give details about the India-Seychelles Relations within the context of the IAS Exam.

Latest Development regarding India-Seychelles Relations

• During a virtual event on April 9 2021, India handed over a Fast Patrol Vessel to Seychelles and inaugurated a solar power plant with a capacity of one MW. Along with this, The Prime Minister of India and President of Seychelles inaugurated 10 high impact community development projects (HICDP)
• The Ship’s name is PS Zoroaster. It is the fourth such ship given to Seychelles with  the last one being given in 2005. The purpose of the ship is to strengthen maritime security through aircraft and patrol ships.

India-Seychelles Relations – UPSC Notes:- Download PDF Here

History of the India-Seychelles Relations

Diplomatic relations between Indian and Seychelles since the independence of the latter in 1976. Relations between the two have been cordial with regular high level visits and exchanges taking place from time to time.

From India, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Presidents R Venkataraman and Pratibha Patil have visited the Seychelles,while Presidents France Albert Rene, James Alix Michel and Danny Faure of Seychelles have paid state visits to India.

India and Seychelles have broad based relations that cover a host of sectors including defence, culture, trade and technical cooperation.

For more news of domestic and international importance, visit the Current Affairs Page.

India and Seychelles Relations: Economic and Technical Cooperation

Tourism, fishing, petroleum exploration, communications and IT, computer education and pharmaceuticals have been identified as areas of economic cooperation between the two countries. India and Seychelles signed a bilateral investment promotion agreement in 2010 and in 2012, during President Pratibha Patil’s visit to Seychelles, India extended a $50-million line of credit and a grant of $25-million.

India has been working on human resource development and capacity building with the Government of Seychelles under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme since the early 1980s. India is a medical tourism destination for the Seychellois and the Government of Seychelles has tied up with MIOT Hospitals and Madras Medical Mission in Chennai for providing healthcare to its citizens.

Defence Cooperation between India and Seychelles

India and Seychelles have a close relationship when it comes to defence ties. Seychelles is of strategic importance to India due to its position in the Indian Ocean. In June 1986, the Indian Navy deployed one of its ships, the INS Vidhyagiri, at the port of Victoria. This was in response to a coup attempt against President Rene by Defence Minister Berlois. The operation was called Operation Flowers are Blooming.

India helped avert a further attempted coup by Berlouis in September 1986, when Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi lent President René his plane so that he could fly back from an international meeting in Harare to the Seychelles. President René reportedly took shelter in the residence of the Indian High Commissioner in Male.

In 2009, India acted upon a request of the Seychelles and dispatched naval ships to patrol the exclusive economic zone of Seychelles and to guard it against piracy.

Various Indian Navy ships have visited Seychelles as part of their anti-piracy deployment and protection of Seychelles EEZ, including INS Tarmugli in February 2005, INS Sukanya in March 2011, INS Shardul from 4 to 6 June 2011 and from 17 to 19 June, 2011.

Related Links