India Announces $175 Million Assistance Package for Seychelles to Deepen Maritime Partnership

India Extends Targeted Economic Support to Seychelles

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a special economic assistance package valued at $175 million (approximately Rs 1,450 crore ) for Seychelles following bilateral discussions with President Patrick Herminie in New Delhi. The commitment reflects India’s continued prioritisation of partnerships with strategically placed island states in the western Indian Ocean.

Development Cooperation at the Core of Bilateral Ties

Indian support will be channelled into priority sectors identified by Seychelles, including social housing, electric mobility, vocational skilling, healthcare delivery, defence cooperation, and maritime security infrastructure . New Delhi reiterated that its assistance framework is demand-driven, designed to align with the partner country’s national development agenda rather than externally imposed templates.

High-Level Visit with Multi-City Engagements

President Herminie’s three-day state visit has included interactions beyond the capital. Earlier engagements in Chennai and Mumbai focused on governance practices, industrial linkages, coastal management systems, and public health collaboration. These consultations aim to translate political goodwill into implementable sectoral partnerships across infrastructure, services and capacity-building.

Strategic Significance Under Vision Mahasagar

The discussions took place alongside India’s expanding maritime outreach under Vision Mahasagar , an evolved framework building upon the 2015 Vision SAGAR initiative for the Indian Ocean Region. The approach emphasises sustainable economic growth, secure sea lanes, and stronger South–South cooperation. Senior Indian officials highlighted Seychelles’ role as a key partner for enhancing maritime domain awareness and regional stability.

Expanding Cooperation in Health, Trade and Blue Economy

Parallel meetings explored long-term collaboration in hospital capacity, digital health platforms, and medical outreach programmes. Dialogues with port and shipping stakeholders examined opportunities in maritime logistics, fisheries, and the blue economy, signalling intent to deepen commercial connectivity while advancing environmentally responsible ocean governance.

Exam-Focused Points

• India announced a $175 million (Rs1,450 crore) assistance package for Seychelles.

• Seychelles occupies a strategic location in the western Indian Ocean Region (IOR) .

• Vision SAGAR (2015) laid the foundation for India’s maritime cooperation framework.

• Vision Mahasagar expands engagement with emphasis on the Global South and maritime security.

• India–Seychelles cooperation includes defence capacity-building, maritime surveillance, and development projects .