President Danny Faure received the Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Mrs Marjaana Sall, at State House this morning.

The Head of State thanked Ambassador Sall for the significant role that the European Union has played in helping Seychelles in its development, especially in building institutions.  He noted how the Government of Seychelles greatly values the economic partnership, especially with the confirmed signatory agreement of the loan and grant agreements between the Seychelles Ports Authority, the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Union, for financing the expansion and rehabilitation of Port Victoria and its facilities.

“I would like to thank you for the support that we are receiving from the European Union in terms of the infrastructural development of Seychelles. As you know, the port is strategic and central, thus it is a necessity to have Port Victoria expanded and rehabilitated. It is important to put in place new infrastructures that will unlock new areas for economic growth of the country for the next twenty five years,” said the President.

During the meeting, President Faure and Ambassador Sall also discussed avenues for other bilateral programmes as well as those that are ongoing, namely in maritime security, anti-corruption and good governance, fisheries, climate change and other economic partnerships.

They also spoke about areas where Seychelles and European Union share many common values, especially in the international arena, including on the level of Southern African Development Community (SADC) or the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).