New Delhi meeting between India and Seychelles a tourism success

It was at the end of last week that Shri Kulraj Mishra, the Indian Honorable Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, welcomed Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, who was in Indian on and official working visit. The meeting which took place at Rafi Marg was also attended by HE Waven William, the Seychelles High Commissioner accredited to India; Marco Francis, the Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industries; Sherin Naiken, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board; Benjamine Rose, the PS for Culture; Patsy Moustache, the Second Secretary at the Seychelles High Commission; and by members of the Indian Association of Seychelles namely: Pravin Darad, Ramakrishnan Pillay, Shanmouga Pillay, Narendra Raghvani, and Narasimhan Ramani.

Minister Mishra of India said as he welcomed the Seychelles delegation to his offices that he remained convinced of the potential for more trade between India and Seychelles. The Minister said that he felt encouraged by the drive from Seychelles side to see air connectivity re-established between Seychelles and India. Minister St.Ange of the Seychelles addressed for all to hear, the importance for India to be represented at the May Trade Fair being organized by the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industries which will bring together in the one hall, manufacturers and traders from Asia inclusive of India, Africa, and from the Indian Ocean islands. “This will be the opportunity for a ‘South-South Cooperation’ – that cooperation we have all been talking about for years and even decades. Seychelles, because of its geographical position which puts it in the center of the world, is offering all countries of the Indian Ocean region the opportunity to network and to create contacts and build new partnerships,” Minister St.Ange said as he invited Minister Mishra of India to personally lead an Indian business delegation to this trade fair to showcase what is made in India and available for export.

Members of the Seychelles delegation also spoke about the opportunities in Seychelles on the Free Trade Zone which will open doors to mainland Africa, as Seychelles is today, more than ever before, well positioned as the gateway to Africa.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .