The new High Commissioner of Australia to Seychelles, Ms Susan Coles, presented her credentials to President James Michel at State House this morning.

After the accreditation ceremony High Commissioner Coles told the national media that there exists a warm relationship between Australia and Seychelles, which she said is based on people-to-people links such as the very strong Seychellois community in Australia and the number of Seychellois students who studied in Australia, including those that have been recipients of the ‘Australia Award scheme’.

High Commissioner Cole has also expressed Australia’s interest in partnering with Seychelles in the development of the Blue Economy concept, with its focus on environmental protection of the ocean, sustainable fisheries, exploring the possibilities of aqua culture, new industries around the sea and the sharing of Indian Ocean resources.

“This is an area where Australia has considerable expertise; we have research institutions and our universities and we look forward to exchanging information and cooperating with the Seychelles in their endeavour to become leading island states with the Blue Economy. We also touched on our shared interest in the Indian Ocean Rim Association, of which Australia is now the President  for the coming two years. We took the presidency in November last year at a meeting hosted in Perth where our Foreign Minister, Mrs. Julie Bishop, expressed great enthusiasm for efforts and engagement in the Indian Ocean region and, as part of that, she expressed interest in the possibility of coming to visit all the Indian Ocean Rim Association countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar and the Comores,” she said.

Also present during the meeting were the the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Maurice Loustau Lalanne, and the President's Diplomatic Adviser, Ambassador Callixte D'Offay.

High Commissioner Susan Coles is based in Mauritius.