Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Seychelles on 27 June 2026 for a three-day state visit at the invitation of President H.E. Dr Patrick Herminie. The visit carries double significance: it coincides both with the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles. PM Modi attended the Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations as the guest of Honour — the first Indian Prime Minister to do so.
This is PM Modi’s second visit to Seychelles; his first was in 2015. President Herminie had previously visited India in February 2026, during which New Delhi announced a USD 175 million Special Economic Package for Seychelles.
President Herminie and Vice-President Sebastian Pillay, along with cabinet ministers and senior officials, welcomed PM Modi at Seychelles International Airport. He was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. Members of the Indian diaspora performed a folk dance from Kutch, Gujarat.
The two leaders then visited the National Botanical Garden, where PM Modi planted a sapling of the iconic Coco de Mer palm under his ongoing “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (a tree for Mother) initiative. The two leaders also visited the giant Aldabra tortoise enclosure within the garden. PM Modi posted, X: “Visited the Giant Tortoise Enclosure at the Seychelles National Botanical Garden with President Dr Patrick Herminie. The Aldabra Giant Tortoise, which is native to Seychelles, is among the largest and longest-living species on Earth, with some of them witnessing over two centuries of history. The Aldabra Giant Tortoise also have an association with the special friendship between India and Seychelles. In 2014, two of them were gifted to the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. A few years later, Seychelles gifted a few more tortoises to Hyderabad Zoo.”
Defence Transfers
On the first day, PM Modi handed over a Made-in-India Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV), PS Lespwar meaning “Hope” in Creole, to the Seychelles Defence Forces at the Seychelles Coast Guard Base. Built by Goa Shipyard Limited and capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots, the vessel is designed to strengthen Seychelles’ maritime surveillance and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol capabilities. Alongside the vessel, India handed over 10 utility vehicles and five laser radial boats.
Two Indian naval ships, INS Tarkash and INS Ikshak, docked at Port Victoria to mark the occasion, continuing a tradition that dates to Seychelles’ first Independence Day in 1976, when INS Nilgiri was present at Port Victoria.
Guardian of the Blue Horizon
On 28 June, President Herminie conferred upon PM Modi the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon”, a newly created presidential distinction being awarded for the first time. The honour recognises PM Modi’s leadership in sustainable development, climate resilience, blue economy advancement, and support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Bilateral Talks and Agreements
PM Modi and President Herminie held formal talks at State House in Victoria, covering the full spectrum of bilateral relations. The leaders agreed to deepen cooperation in health, education, digital transformation, renewable energy, maritime security, and defence. They also discussed new areas: artificial intelligence, marine science, cybersecurity, and space.
President Herminie put forward proposals requesting Indian assistance in providing an advanced light helicopter and establishing centres for cybersecurity and artificial intelligence in Seychelles. PM Modi welcomed these proposals and indicated India would take them forward positively. Both sides also agreed to work towards enhanced shipping and aviation connectivity.
Several MoUs and agreements were signed following the bilateral talks. India extended a Line of Credit worth INR 1,250 crore in rupees to support priority development projects in Seychelles. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Central Bank of Seychelles signed an MoU for deploying India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Seychelles, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirming the system is targeted to be operational by the end of 2026. The two sides also concluded an extradition treaty aimed at combating transnational crime and signed an MoU on cooperation in the exploration of outer space for peaceful purposes. Further agreements were signed in the areas of Jan Aushadhi — to provide affordable medicines to the people of Seychelles — as well as agriculture, shipping, and capacity building.
Both leaders launched a special commemorative logo marking 50 years of India-Seychelles diplomatic relations. Seychelles also formally joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
In terms of humanitarian and infrastructure support, India handed over 500 metric tonnes of rice (food security), 8,500 metric tonnes of cement (infrastructure), and the first tranche of six ambulances along with two paramedics for training. A virtual groundbreaking was held for the Seychelles Professional and Technical Education Centre, being constructed under India’s Special Economic Package.
Address to the National Assembly
PM Modi addressed an extraordinary sitting of the Seychelles National Assembly – the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. He spoke of the historical depth of the bilateral relationship, tracing it to 1770, when five Indians arrived at Saint Anne Island aboard the ship Thélemaque: “The bonds between us were not created by governments. They were built by people, nurtured by families, and sustained by generations. The Indian Ocean made this possible. The Indian Ocean does not separate India and Seychelles. It connects us.”
He also highlighted India’s shared vision for the Indian Ocean region: “We see a nation whose horizons stretch far beyond its shores. Your maritime domain extends across nearly 1.4 million square kilometres. This makes Seychelles not a small island state but a Large Ocean Country.”
On climate justice, PM Modi stated, “We both firmly believe that those who have contributed the least to climate change should not bear the greatest burden of its consequences. Climate action must be guided by fairness, responsibility, and equity. This is the essence of climate justice.”
He noted that nearly one in every 50 Seychellois has been trained in India and called for enhanced parliamentary exchanges between the two democracies. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bernard Georges, also called on PM Modi and expressed support for deepening India-Seychelles ties.
Vision MAHASAGAR and the Indian Ocean
Seychelles holds a central place in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — India’s strategic framework for the Indian Ocean region under which maritime neighbours are treated as priority partners.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in the Special Briefing, summarised the overarching framework: “The Indian Ocean, which is where both Seychelles and India are located, is not an ocean that separates the two countries; it links the two countries. And it is for both countries an ocean of opportunity.”
PM Modi, in his joint press statement, affirmed India’s strategic vision: “Our vision is to make Indian Ocean into an Ocean of Opportunity.”
India’s total special economic package to Seychelles stands at USD 175 million — USD 125 million in concessional financial assistance (the agreement for which was signed during the visit) and USD 50 million in grant assistance — directed at sectors including social housing, green mobility, maritime security, education, healthcare, and digital public infrastructure.
