The new Ambassador of of Finland to Seychelles, H.E. Ms. Tarja Fernández, presented her credentials to President James Michel at State House today.

President Michel and Ambassador Fernández spoke about creating new partnerships in renewable energy, as well as other bilateral projects concerning sustainable development, environment and energy.

They also spoke about the need to maintain peace and security in the Indian Ocean, and use the existing anti-piracy structures to fight against transnational crime, particularly drugs, which would ensure stability in the region.

Ambassador Fernández told the national media that she intends to further the cooperation between the two countries particularly in the energy sector.

" There are quite a few areas where we have common interests...We have been supporting some of the sustainable energy/solar power projects here in the past and some of them are still ongoing.The area of security is an area we have been cooperating and we will continue...Finland is part of the training crew that is training the East Africa Standby Force and they have organised courses in the region. Seychelles has been very active in this framework. We are looking forward to organising a course this year as well," said Ambassador Fernández.

Ambassador Tarja Fernández is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Also present during the meeting were the Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, the President's Diplomatic Adviser, Ambassador Callixte D'Offay, and the Honorary Consul of Finland based in Seychelles, Ms. Marja Karjalainen.