India and Seychelles

PM Modi in Seychelles: India seeks Indian Ocean as ‘Ocean of Opportunity’-INDIAN EXPRESS 

Prime Minister outlined India’s vision for the Indian Ocean during his Seychelles visit as both countries signed MoUs on UPI, healthcare, banking, agriculture, and space cooperation.

India’s Vision for the Indian Ocean

• India envisions the Indian Ocean as an “Ocean of Opportunity”.
• The vision is based on maritime security and regional stability.
• India seeks to promote sustainable economic growth across the Indian Ocean region.
• Partnerships should be guided by mutual respect, trust and equality, not by size or power.
• India stresses shared responsibility for security, sustainability and development.
• The Indian Ocean is seen as a common strategic space for all regional stakeholders.
• Collective action is necessary to address both traditional security threats and non-traditional challenges such as piracy, climate change, disasters and illegal maritime activities.

Major Outcomes of the Visit

1. Strategic Partnership

• India and Seychelles agreed to deepen cooperation in health, education, skill development, digital transformation, renewable energy, sustainable development, social infrastructure, maritime security and defence.
• Both sides reviewed progress under India’s Special Economic Package for Seychelles.

2. Key Agreements

• MoUs were signed in UPI, healthcare, agriculture, banking, shipping, space, capacity building, extradition and Line of Credit cooperation.
• These agreements aim to modernise Seychelles’ economy and strengthen India’s developmental partnership.

3. Development Assistance

• India announced a USD 175 million package, including a USD 125 million Line of Credit and USD 50 million grant assistance.
• It will support infrastructure, food security, healthcare, vocational training, maritime security and defence.

4. Maritime Security

• Maritime cooperation remains the core of bilateral relations.
• Focus areas include piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, maritime crime, surveillance, hydrography and defence capacity building.
• India supported Seychelles through the refit of PS Zoroaster and gifting of Fast Attack Vessel PS Lespwar.

5. MAHASAGAR Vision

• Seychelles holds a key place in India’s MAHASAGAR vision.
• It promotes maritime security, blue economy, disaster resilience, connectivity, sustainable development and inclusive growth.

India–Seychelles Relations

• India and Seychelles share a time-tested and multifaceted partnership based on maritime security, historical ties and shared interests in the Western Indian Ocean.
• The relationship is strengthened by strong people-to-people ties, with Indians present in Seychelles since the 18th century.
• The Indian diaspora plays an important role in Seychelles’ socio-economic and professional sectors.
• Both countries conduct the biennial joint military exercise LAMITYE, continuing since 2001.
• India has historically supported Seychelles’ sovereignty, notably during the 1986 coup attempt under Operation Flowers are Blooming.

Why Seychelles Matters for India

• Seychelles is strategically located in the Western Indian Ocean near key Sea Lines of Communication.
• It is an important partner in India’s maritime security framework.
• It supports India’s Blue Economy and Indo-Pacific strategy.
• It helps India monitor maritime threats such as piracy, seaborne terrorism and illegal activities.
• Seychelles is significant for maintaining regional stability and countering China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
• It is also a key partner in India’s development diplomacy towards Small Island Developing States.