PM promises to handover second Dornier aircraft to the island nation to boost its defense capabilities
India and Seychelles signed six agreements in key areas including cybersecurity and took important decisions regarding maritime security and defense, on Monday. The Seychelles President Danny Faure also attended a lunch hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the bilateral talks.
Addressing a joint press conference, the two leaders stressed on defense and security cooperation between the two countries.
Modi said India would hand over the second Dornier aircraft to Seychelles as promised during his visit to the country in 2015.
The aircraft would reach Seychelles before its National Day on June 29, Modi added.
"We face dangers of international crimes such as piracy, drugs, human trafficking and illegal explanation of oceanic resources," Modi noted and assured India's commitment to augment the island nation's defense capabilities, maritime infrastructure, and increase the capabilities of its defense personnel.
"Striking the notes of friendship! Impressive singing by the President of #Seychelles Danny Faure of 'O Mon Pei Sesel' at the lunch hosted by PM @narendramodi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted along with a video clip.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-in), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the Department of Information Communications Technology of Seychelles on cooperation in the area of cybersecurity.
An agreement on the establishment of friendship and cooperation between the corporation of the city of Panaji and the city of Victoria of the Republic of Seychelles was signed.
Another MoU was inked on sharing white shipping information between the Indian Navy and the National Information Sharing and Coordination Centre of Seychelles. This can facilitate exchanging data on identity and movement of non-military commercial vessels.
A pact was signed between Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Seychelles for training Seychelles diplomats.
Agreements to promote cultural exchange programmes between India and Seychelles for the years 2018-2022 and Indian grant assistance for implementation of small development projects through local bodies, educational and vocational institutes were also signed.
Take Care, Says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked up to an IAF personnel who fainted during the guard of honour organised at the Rashtrapati Bhavan for visiting Seychelles President Danny Faure and asked him to take care of his health. Faure was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi. After the ceremony ended and the dignitary left, the Prime Minister walked up to the IAF personnel and enquired about his health.
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