This article describes India's development partnership with Seychelles, including training, lines of credit, grants and community projects, health and humanitarian assistance, and defence and security cooperation. It is based on the MEA bilateral brief of June 2026, and amounts and dates are those the brief gives.

Training and capacity building

According to the MEA brief of June 2026, an important aspect of bilateral cooperation revolves around development assistance programmes extended to Seychelles under ITEC, ICCR and IAFS. The brief states that over 1% of the local population form part of the ITEC alumni who have benefited from training courses under the ITEC programme.

An IT Centre for Excellence, set up in Victoria with Government of India assistance, was inaugurated at Mont Fleuri, Mahé, in April 2011.

Special Economic Package of 2026

During President Dr. Patrick Herminie's State Visit in February 2026, Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi announced a Special Economic Package (SEP) of USD 175 million to support the development priorities of Seychelles. The SEP includes a USD 125 million Line of Credit and a USD 50 million grant. The brief lists the priorities it supports as health, renewables, education, social housing, e-mobility and maritime security.

Lines of credit and grants

Lines of Credit have been extended to Seychelles since the early 1980s. During the Presidential visit in 2012, an LOC of US$ 50 Million and a Grant of US$ 25 Million were announced. The grant became operational in 2016, and the brief lists the following among its uses:

  • 10 light vehicles, including four TATA Safari Strome and 6 TATA Zest cars worth USD 183,000, gifted on 28 Nov 2017 to the Seychelles People's Defence Forces (SPDF)
  • a further 10 TATA vehicles worth USD 250,000 gifted to the Narcotics wing of Seychelles Police in June 2018
  • 71 buses and 6 light vehicles procured for the Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC) for USD 3.5 million
  • 10 ambulances worth USD 385,000

USD 4,704,135 was committed for the Restoration Project of CRS Station in different islands across Seychelles. In August 2021, ICT tools costing about USD 72,000, including computers, TV monitors, high speed scanners, audio systems, cameras and furniture, were provided to set up a Learning Center under the University of Seychelles. A further 60 buses were delivered between February 2023 and September 2024 under Line of Credit assistance.

Community projects

In a joint e-inauguration ceremony in April 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Wavel Ramkalawan handed over 10 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) together with a Solar PV Systems Project built under Government of India grant assistance of USD 3.5 Million. The solar project included:

  • Roof-Top Solar Panels on Government Buildings
  • a 300 KW Solar Rooftop System for people in Seychelles
  • a 1 MW ground mounted Solar Power Plant at Romainville Island

India also handed over a Magistrates court building built under a Government of India grant of USD 3.45 Million. In July 2023, India gifted 4 methadone vans to assist Seychelles' drug mitigation efforts.

A total of 28 HICDPs were undertaken in Phase-I. The MoU for Phase-II, covering Small Development Projects through local bodies and educational and vocational institutions, was signed during Foreign Minister Radegonde's visit to India in November 2023. As of the brief, the Phase-II projects were at the identification and commencement stage.

Health and humanitarian assistance

Seychelles was one of the first countries to receive Covid-19 vaccine under India's Vaccine Maitri initiative, with a consignment of 50,000 doses of Covishield shipped in January 2021. In May 2022, the two countries signed an MoU for reciprocal recognition of COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates.

The brief records that 200 tonnes of non-basmati rice were delivered to Seychelles in July 2024 under the special waiver granted for export of rice to Seychelles in September 2024, to ensure the country's food security. On 20 November 2025, India donated 3.5 tonnes of essential medicines and medical supplies to strengthen Seychelles' healthcare system.

Defence and security cooperation

The brief describes "an elaborate architecture of defence and security cooperation" between the two countries, which it says has deepened over the years with the growing piracy menace and other economic offences in the Indian Ocean region. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar visited Seychelles in April 2022.

Hydrography and surveillance

In pursuance of the MOU on Hydrography of March 2015, Indian Naval Ship INS Darshak visited Seychelles from 5 November to 19 December 2015 to conduct a hydrographic survey of Victoria Port and adjoining areas. A delegation of the National Hydrographic Office, Dehradun, visited in November 2024 for discussions with the Seychelles Standing Committee on Hydrography.

India gifted and installed six coastal surveillance radar systems in Seychelles in 2015, which are maintained with Indian assistance. India also gifted two Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft, the first in April 2013 and the second in June 2018.

Vessels and equipment

  • Patrol boats PS Topaz and PS Constant, gifted in 2005 and 2014 respectively
  • Indian Coast Guard Fast Interceptor Boat C-405, rechristened 'PB Hermes', gifted in 2016, and its replacement vessel 'PB Boudeuse', gifted and commissioned on 25 February 2025 in the presence of the President and Vice President of Seychelles
  • Fast Patrol Vessel SCG PS Zoroaster, handed over to Seychelles Coast Guard in April 2021
  • two ceremonial guns and ammunition, gifted at the request of the Government of Seychelles in May 2022

Exercises and ship visits

Eleven editions of the India-Seychelles biennial joint military Exercise "LAMITYE" have been held, the latest in Victoria from 09-20 March 2026. The 11th Edition was the first tri-service edition of the exercise. Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) took part in the first edition of the Indian Army's Exercise 'PRAGATI' in May 2026.

The SDF vessel PS Zoroaster took part in Exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam in February 2026. It then underwent a gratis refit at GRSE Kolkata, and INS Tarkash escorted it back to Seychelles on 12 June 2026. The brief presents this as illustrating "the strong India-Seychelles defence relationship".

Indian naval visits recorded in the brief include:

  • INS Teg, 26-30 June 2025, for the 49th National Day celebrations on 29 June 2025, with a marching contingent in the National Parade and a display by the Indian Army "DareDevils"
  • INS Sunayna, 26 to 30 June 2024, for the 48th National Day celebrations, with an Advanced Light Helicopter demonstration at the Seychelles Air Force headquarters on 27 June 2024 for President Wavel Ramkalawan and Vice President Ahmed Afif
  • INS Sunayna in July 2023 for "Operation Southern Readiness" under Combined Maritime Forces, and INS Sharda on November 6-14, 2023 for the IONS Maritime Exercise IMEX-23
  • INS Tir, 24 February to 8 March 2024, for Exercise Cutlass Express and to hand over serviced Dornier engines and spares
  • INS Tushil at Port Victoria on 7-8 February 2025, and IOS SAGAR on 01 May 2025 with 44 international crew members from 09 friendly countries, including 04 SDF personnel
  • IASV Triveni, 03 to 08 May 2025, with a nine-member all-women tri-services crew on the 'SAMUDRA PRADAKSHINA' expedition

The Bharat Seychelles Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment (SIDE) was held in Victoria on 14 March 2024, with 9 Indian defence manufacturers showing equipment of interest to the SDF.