President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr. Patrick Herminie, opened Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 with a series of high-level engagements that delivered tangible diplomatic, economic, and sustainability outcomes for Seychelles. The opening day, Tuesday 13 January 2026, was marked by strengthened bilateral relations, forward-looking discussions on trade and climate cooperation, strategic engagement with global energy partners, and meaningful dialogue with youth leaders, firmly positioning Seychelles as an active and influential voice in regional and international sustainability discourse.
A key highlight was a bilateral meeting with President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to revitalising historic political ties grounded in shared values of democratic governance, social justice, and regional stability. Discussions focused on enhancing economic cooperation, with agreement to work towards a structured framework to strengthen trade and investment relations.
Sustainability and climate action featured prominently, with both leaders emphasising the importance of African-led initiatives and collaborative approaches to development and climate challenges. Regional cooperation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was also discussed, with President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as SADC Chair, highlighting Seychelles’ continued strategic importance, particularly in maritime security and the Blue Economy. President Herminie extended an invitation to President Ramaphosa to undertake an official visit to Seychelles, which was accepted in principle.
President Herminie also participated in the official opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, a flagship global platform that convenes world leaders, industry experts, policymakers, and environmental advocates to advance sustainability solutions. His participation underscored Seychelles’ commitment to multilateral engagement on climate action and highlighted the unique vulnerabilities and perspectives of Small Island Developing States. The opening programme also featured the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize, which recognises innovative initiatives driving impactful change across energy, water, food, health, and climate sectors.
In line with Seychelles’ strong emphasis on youth empowerment, the President hosted an interactive engagement with young leaders at the Youth for Sustainability Hub and Forum. The dialogue provided an
opportunity to exchange views on national and global sustainability challenges, while amplifying youth- led visions for a resilient and sustainable future. President Herminie reaffirmed the central role of young people as drivers of innovation and long-term solutions in climate action and sustainable development.
President Herminie also toured the World Future Energy Summit, where he engaged directly with the technologies and ideas shaping the global energy transition. Beginning at the Youth for Sustainability Pavilion, the visit highlighted the role of innovation and young leadership in advancing sustainable solutions, before continuing through exhibition stands showcasing the latest developments in renewable energy and sustainable technologies. The engagements focused on emerging global trends with direct relevance to the energy transition priorities of Small Island Developing States, including Seychelles.
The delegation later visited the Masdar Pavilion, where Masdar’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Abdulaziz Alobaidli delivered a detailed presentation on the company’s flagship projects and technological solutions. This was followed by a visit to the BYD exhibition stand, where discussions focused on utility-scale battery energy storage systems and next-generation storage technologies with potential applications for island energy systems.
The programme concluded at the IRENA Pavilion, where President Herminie held discussions with the Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Mr. Francesco La Camera. Talks centred on strengthening collaboration and exploring continued technical and institutional support to advance Seychelles’ renewable energy transition and climate resilience objectives.