Seychelles President Patrick Herminie will undertake his maiden State Visit to India from February 5 to 10 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday.

This will be Herminie’s first official visit to India since assuming office in October 2025. The visit also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles, underscoring the enduring strategic partnership between the two Indian Ocean nations.

During his stay in New Delhi, President Herminie is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Modi on bilateral cooperation, regional security, maritime collaboration, and global issues of mutual interest. Officials say the talks will focus on deepening defence ties, economic engagement, climate action, and people-to-people exchanges.

Beyond the capital, Herminie will travel to Chennai and Mumbai, where he is expected to participate in business and investment forums aimed at boosting trade, tourism, and technology collaboration between Indian and Seychellois enterprises.

The MEA described Seychelles as a “key maritime neighbour” in the Indian Ocean Region and a central partner in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR — an initiative promoting Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. The statement highlighted Seychelles’ strategic importance in India’s outreach to the Global South and its role in regional stability and maritime security.

The visit follows Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan’s trip to Seychelles in October 2025, when he represented India at Herminie’s swearing-in ceremony. During that visit, Radhakrishnan met Herminie at the State House in Victoria, conveyed India’s congratulations, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean and the broader Global South.

The Vice President also held talks with Seychelles Vice President Sebastien Pillay, reviewing the multifaceted bilateral relationship rooted in historical ties, cultural affinity, and strong people-to-people connections. Discussions covered cooperation in fisheries, renewable energy, healthcare, digital transformation, and maritime security.

India and Seychelles formally established diplomatic relations after Seychelles gained independence on June 29, 1976. An Indian naval contingent from INS Nilgiri participated in Seychelles’ independence celebrations, symbolizing early goodwill between the two nations.

India set up its diplomatic mission in Victoria in 1979, initially managed from Dar-es-Salaam, before appointing its first resident High Commissioner in 1987. Seychelles reciprocated by opening its resident mission in New Delhi in 2008, reflecting the growing importance of bilateral ties.

Over the decades, cooperation between the two countries has expanded across defence, development assistance, infrastructure, health, education, and maritime security. India has supported Seychelles through capacity-building initiatives, naval cooperation, disaster response, and economic development projects.

Analysts say Herminie’s visit is expected to inject fresh momentum into this partnership, particularly in areas such as ocean governance, climate resilience, blue economy development, and strategic maritime coordination.

As India deepens its engagement in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles remains a vital partner — both as a strategic gateway and as a fellow champion of multilateral cooperation in the Global South.