The new High Commissioner of India to Seychelles, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Panda, presented his credentials to President James Michel at State House this morning.

After the accreditation ceremony High Commissioner Panda told the national media that his talks with the President centred on various areas of bilateral engagements with the aim of taking the diplomatic relationship to 'a new level.'

"We have got excellent ties, but it is important that we now work very hard to take it to the next level...it is very important to have the connectivity and people to people contact to develop tourism infrastructure to get more people to visit Seychelles for interactions; that is how the two countries can really come closer, for now the government are close that why it is important for the people also come close to each other," said the High Commissioner.

He said that India would continue to develop training programmes for Seychelles as well as maritime cooperation, and trade and commerce, with the aim of diversifying the cooperation.

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

High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Panda is based in Victoria, Seychelles.