Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid a State Visit to Seychelles from 27–29 June 2026, during which he held official talks with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie at the State House in Victoria, Mahé.
Both leaders unveiled a joint commemorative logo marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles.
Several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements were exchanged in the fields of capacity building, UPI, health, agriculture, shipping, space cooperation, extradition, and a Line of Credit.
India extended a Line of Credit worth ₹1,250 crore to support Seychelles’ developmental priorities.
Prime Minister Modi addressed an Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly of Seychelles, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so.
The visit coincided with the 50th Independence Day celebrations of Seychelles (29 June 2026), where PM Modi attended as the Guest of Honour.
India–Seychelles Historical Ties
The first recorded inhabitants of Seychelles arrived in 1770, including five Indians, seven African slaves, and fifteen French colonists.
During British rule, Seychelles was administered from the Bombay Presidency for a period, strengthening historical trade and maritime links with India.
At present, Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) constitute around 6,000 people (about 5% of Seychelles’ population of nearly 120,000), with most belonging to the Gujarati and Tamil communities.
When Seychelles gained independence on 29 June 1976, a contingent from the Indian naval vessel INS Nilgiri participated in the Independence Day celebrations.
Previous High-Level Engagements
Prime Minister Modi had earlier visited Seychelles in 2015.
The first Indian Prime Minister to visit Seychelles was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
In 2015, Justice D. Karunakaran received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, becoming the second recipient from Seychelles after V. Ramadoss, who received the award in 2006.
About Seychelles
Seychelles is an archipelagic island nation in the western Indian Ocean, comprising 115 islands.
It is geographically located off the eastern coast of Africa and is one of the strategically important island nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Seychelles’ nearest neighbours include Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mauritius.
Sources: PIB & IE
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