Seychelles High Commissioner to India, Lalatiana Accouche, has expressed deep gratitude for India’s substantial role in capacity building, describing the bilateral relationship as dynamic and expanding across numerous sectors. In a recent interview with WION Podcast, she emphasized that this partnership is set to grow even stronger under Seychelles’ new administration.

Highlighting the impact of India’s training initiatives, Accouche noted, “Thank India for all you have done. The latest figures show over 1,000 Seychellois have benefited—a significant number for our small population—covering diverse fields.” She pointed to the steady flow of defense and police officers to India for training, underscoring that while the numbers might seem modest to India, they hold great importance for Seychelles.

The High Commissioner also highlighted the deepening people-to-people connections, with many Seychellois turning to India for advanced medical treatment, especially now with easier travel via IndiGo flights. Educational scholarships through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) have further strengthened these bonds.

While applauding the existing cooperation, Accouche identified areas for improvement, such as the lack of direct shipping routes between the two countries, which hampers trade, and the limited presence of Indian banks in Seychelles. She expressed confidence that these gaps could be addressed, given the close partnership.

The recent inauguration of Seychelles’ new President, Patrick Herminie—attended by Indian Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan—was hailed as a “big honour” and an opportunity to “open the door wider” for collaboration. Accouche stated that strengthening Indian Ocean ties is a top priority for the new government, referring to India as the “big sister” in the region.

Seychelles’ formal entry into the Colombo Security Conclave marks another step forward, solidifying cooperation on regional security and combating illegal activities. Looking ahead to the upcoming India-Africa Summit, the first in ten years, Accouche emphasized the complementary strengths of Africa and India, noting that a well-defined action plan on trade from the summit will be crucial for future growth.