Mumbai, February 7 India's engagement with Seychelles is guided by the MAHASAGAR vision, which emphasizes economic cooperation, sustainability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Saturday.
Speaking at the India-Seychelles Business Roundtable here, which was attended by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, Sonowal also said that India is at a pivotal moment, supported by sustained domestic demand, a reform-oriented policy environment, and large-scale infrastructure investment.
Organized by the industry body CII, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, the roundtable explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in maritime trade, blue economy sectors, and sustainable development between the two countries.
The roundtable saw participation from several business entities from industries such as infrastructure, ports, fisheries, healthcare, education, fintech, and the automotive sector, in addition to senior officials from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways and related organizations, as well as the Director General of Shipping.
"India's engagement with Seychelles is guided by the MAHASAGAR vision – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions – which emphasizes economic cooperation, sustainability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region," said Sonowal, the Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on "neighbourhood first" engagement, ocean-based cooperation, and inclusive growth has provided clear strategic direction to India's engagement with island nations of the Indian Ocean, including Seychelles.
India and Seychelles share a common vision of the Indian Ocean as a region of peace, stability, and shared prosperity, the Union Minister said, adding that India's experience in port-led development, logistics, maritime services, and renewable energy can complement Seychelles' development priorities, while Mumbai's financial and fintech ecosystem can support innovation and financial inclusion initiatives.
Emphasizing that India and Seychelles share a relationship rooted in history and strengthened by enduring people-to-people ties, with maritime exchanges predating modern diplomacy, he said this partnership has evolved into a close and friendly relationship based on shared democratic values, pluralism, and mutual respect, with cooperation spanning development assistance, capacity building, education, healthcare, maritime security, and disaster response.
Indian exports to Seychelles include pharmaceuticals, food products, textiles, engineering goods, construction materials, automobiles, and consumer products, while Indian companies have contributed to infrastructure development, energy projects, construction, and services in Seychelles.
