The President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr. Patrick Herminie, officially met with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow at the Grand Kremlin Palace. During the delegation level talks, in the presence of the media, President Putin welcomed President Herminie to Russia and congratulated him on his recent electoral victory.
President Herminie, in turn, thanked President Putin for the warm hospitality and noted that his visit aims to further strengthen Seychelles–Russia relations and expand bilateral cooperation across several strategic sectors. During the wider discussions, the delegations addressed key matters of mutual interest, including fisheries, food security, agriculture, tourism, trade and investment, sports development, transport, and energy.
Particular emphasis was placed on fisheries cooperation, recognising the sector as a cornerstone of Seychelles’ economy and a key area for expanded collaboration and sustainable management. Both sides also highlighted the importance of food security and the promotion of local agricultural produce, particularly in supporting the tourism industry and reducing import dependency. On tourism, it was noted that Russian visitors currently represent one of the highest visitor groups to Seychelles.
The Ministry of Tourism, which formed part of the delegation, indicated that efforts are underway to strengthen areas of cooperation, including ongoing negotiations with Aeroflot to establish year-round direct flights to Seychelles instead of seasonal operations. This is considered especially important given the limited number of connecting flights through the Middle East at the moment. Discussions also touched on collaboration in culinary arts and partnerships with relevant institutions.
On the subject of transport and trade, the delegations discussed ongoing engagements with local institutions aimed at establishing a shipping route for perishable goods between the two countries to facilitate trade.
The Minister for Youth and Sport, Ms Kalsey Belle, noted that while there is already cooperation allowing Seychellois athletes to train and compete in Russia, there is a desire to expand this collaboration to other disciplines such as volleyball, athletics and judo. The proposal also includes opportunities for Russian coaches to train local talents in Seychelles, enabling them to compete at world-class level and strive for gold medals in international competitions.
Energy cooperation was also discussed at length. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mr Barry Faure, highlighted Seychelles’ keen interest in working with Russia in areas such as solar and other renewable energy sources. Such collaboration could help reduce Seychelles’ high dependence on fossil fuels and bring down the cost of energy.
In the field of education, discussions focused on strengthening support to the University of Seychelles and enhancing vocational training opportunities to build capacity in higher education.
Other matters discussed included health, investment opportunities, and the establishment of capacity-building exchange programmes for small and medium-sized businesses.
To conclude, President Dr. Patrick Herminie extended an invitation for a Russian military contingent to participate in Seychelles’ Independence Day military parade. This invitation is intended not only to mark Seychelles’ 50th Independence anniversary, but also to commemorate 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries.