The President of the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Dr. Patrick Herminie, arrived in the Republic of India this morning to commence an Official State Visit, at the invitation of His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
President Herminie arrived at Chennai International Airport in the early hours of Thursday 5th February, 2026, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Véronique Herminie. Upon arrival, the President and First Lady were warmly received by Hourable Minister, Dr. M. Mathiventhan, members of the diplomatic corps, including the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, His Excellency Mr. Rohit Rathish, and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Seychelles to India, Her Excellency Mrs. Lalatiana Accouche. The reception underscored the strong and enduring partnership between Seychelles and India.
The State Visit reaffirms the deep-rooted friendship between the two countries and reflects a shared vision to further broaden cooperation across key strategic sectors. India’s partnership with Seychelles, founded on trust and mutual respect, continues to flourish in areas including maritime security, economic development, climate action, and regional cooperation within the Indian Ocean region.
During the visit, President Herminie will hold high-level bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of India, the President of India, Her Excellency Smt. Droupadi Murmu; the Vice-President of India Hon. Shri Chandrapuran Ponnusami (C.P.) Radhakrishnan; and senior members of the Indian Government. Discussions will focus on strengthening collaboration in trade and investment, health, tourism, climate change, and sustainable development, as well as on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The programme also includes engagements with leaders of selected Indian states, alongside visits to cultural, environmental, and health institutions. These engagements aim to promote practical cooperation and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the two countries.
President Herminie is also accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Ministers and senior officials from key Government portfolios. The delegation also includes representatives from the private sector, reflecting Seychelles’ integrated approach to diplomacy, which aligns foreign policy objectives with economic growth, investment promotion, and employment creation.