- C. P. Radhakrishnan meets delegation led by Seychelles Speaker Azarel Ernesta
- India offers expertise in parliamentary digitalisation and capacity building
- Both sides highlight 50 years of diplomatic relations
- Vice-President recalls India’s USD 175 million special economic package for Seychelles
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd Sept: Vice-President of India and Ex-officio Chancellor of Panjab University C. P. Radhakrishnan on Thursday met a parliamentary delegation from Seychelles led by Speaker of the National Assembly Azarel Ernesta at Parliament House in New Delhi.
Radhakrishnan conveyed his greetings to the Government and people of Seychelles on the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence and congratulated Ernesta on becoming the first woman Speaker of the Seychelles National Assembly.
Recalling the close ties between the two countries, the Vice-President said Seychelles holds a special place for him. He recalled his visit to Seychelles for the swearing-in ceremony of President Patrick Herminie in October 2025, which was his first overseas visit as Vice-President of India.
Radhakrishnan highlighted the significance of 2026 in bilateral relations, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Seychelles’ 50th National Day celebrations in June, while President Herminie paid a State Visit to India in February. Seychelles Vice-President Sebastien Pillay also visited India in February to attend the AI Impact Summit.
The Vice-President recalled India’s announcement in February 2026 of a USD 175 million Special Economic Package for Seychelles, saying it would further elevate the development and security partnership between the two countries.
During the meeting, Radhakrishnan outlined initiatives undertaken by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat in parliamentary modernisation and digitalisation, including paperless functioning, simultaneous translation, cybersecurity capacity building and digital archives.
He offered to share India’s parliamentary experience with the Seychelles National Assembly through study visits and customised capacity-building programmes based on Seychelles’ requirements.
The Vice-President also highlighted the contribution of the Indian diaspora in Seychelles, particularly the Gujarati and Tamil communities, describing them as an enduring bridge of friendship between the two countries.
Radhakrishnan noted Speaker Ernesta’s practice of Yoga and said it symbolised the strong people-to-people ties between India and Seychelles. He expressed confidence that cooperation between the two parliamentary institutions would continue to deepen.
