The Seychelles–India Business Forum held in Chennai marked a highly positive and forward-looking engagement, with the President of the Republic of Seychelles, His Excellency Dr. Patrick Herminie, attending as Guest of Honour. The Forum brought together representatives of the Government of Seychelles and leading business stakeholders, and was co-chaired by the Seychelles Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Mr. Pierre Laporte. The engagement aimed to reinforce the strong economic partnership between Seychelles and India while opening new avenues for trade, investment, and private-sector collaboration.
The Forum provided a strategic platform to deepen cooperation between the Seychellois and Indian private sectors. Joining President Herminie on the panel were India’s Minister of State for Tourism, Mr. Suresh Gopi, who also serves as Chairman of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), alongside representatives from the respective chambers of commerce of both countries.
Discussions focused on expanding trade, investment, and partnerships in priority sectors critical to Seychelles’ sustainable development. Key areas explored included infrastructure development, with opportunities highlighted for Indian contractors to participate in public tender processes and public–private partnership (PPP) projects in Seychelles.
The Forum also examined logistics and transshipment opportunities aimed at increasing container traffic between India and Seychelles, thereby enhancing trade flows and strengthening regional connectivity. In the health sector, participants discussed India’s potential support in the construction and development of new health infrastructure in Seychelles, as well as expanded cooperation in pharmaceuticals to facilitate greater access to high-quality pharmaceutical products from India.
Further areas of collaboration included renewable energy, where India’s advanced expertise in photovoltaic (PV) technology was identified as a valuable contribution to Seychelles’ clean energy transition. Electric mobility was also discussed, with Indian manufacturers showcasing their capacity to supply electric buses to support the modernization and sustainability of Seychelles’ public transport system.
In the creative industries, Minister Pierre Laporte proposed positioning Seychelles as a potential destination for future Indian film productions, highlighting the country’s unique natural landscapes and its growing appeal as an international filming location. The Seychelles–India Business Forum reaffirmed the strong economic partnership between the two countries and underscored a shared commitment to translating political goodwill into tangible business opportunities. The engagement marked an important step toward deepening private-sector participation and advancing Seychelles’ development objectives through strategic international cooperation.
Speaking to the media following the Forum, President Herminie said that Seychelles and India must pursue continuous development, with the attraction of sustainable investment remaining central to achieving this objective. He emphasised the need to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries, noting that commercial ties have historically been strong due to their close proximity and shared Indian Ocean heritage. In this context, the President underscored that consolidating and expanding commerce with India is both timely and strategic.