Source: TN
Subject: Mapping
Context: India and Seychelles announced the Joint Vision “SESEL” during President Patrick Herminie’s State Visit to India, marking 50 years of Seychelles’ independence and India–Seychelles diplomatic ties.
About Seychelles:
What it is?
- A small island republic (SIDS) comprising ~115 islands in the western Indian Ocean.
Located in: Between 4°–11° S latitudes and 46°–56° E longitudes; about 1,600 km east of Kenya and 1,100 km northeast of Madagascar.
Capital: Victoria (on Mahé island).
Key geological features:
- Two island groups:
- Mahé group: over 40 granitic, mountainous islands with narrow coastal plains and a central hill range.
- Outer islands: over 70 low-lying coralline islands/atolls, flat and reef-based.
- Highest point: Morne Seychellois (905 m) on Mahé.
- Notable natural heritage: Aldabra Atoll and Vallée de Mai National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Sites); rich marine biodiversity and endemic flora like coco de mer.
Key features of the India–Seychelles Joint Declaration (SESEL):
- People-centric development partnership: Announcement of a USD 175 million Special Economic Package (USD 125 mn LoC + USD 50 mn Grant) to support infrastructure, capacity building, maritime security and inclusive growth.
- Maritime security & MAHASAGAR vision: Reaffirmation of Seychelles as a core pillar in India’s MAHASAGAR vision, with enhanced maritime domain awareness, joint surveillance, hydrography and defence capacity-building in the Western Indian Ocean.
- Digital & governance cooperation: Commitment to build Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in Seychelles, including digital payments and e-governance, leveraging India’s digital public goods.
- Climate action & sustainability focus: Deepened cooperation on renewable energy, climate resilience, Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, support for CDRI, and advocacy for Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) for SIDS.
- Health, food security & human capacity: Support for affordable medicines (Indian Pharmacopoeia recognition), donation of ambulances and food grains, collaboration on a new hospital, and expanded training/ITEC-based capacity building across sectors.
