With Seychelles President Patrick Herminie’s visit, India is looking to advance its ‘Vision Mahasagar’, a strategic evolution from the Indian Ocean-focused ‘Vision Sagar’, first floated in 2015, to a global maritime framework with particular emphasis on the Global South.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Seychelles President Patrick Herminie during his state visit to India.
Herminie’s visit has come at a time when India has sought to advance its ‘Vision Mahasagar’, a strategic evolution from the Indian Ocean-focused ‘Vision Sagar’, which was first floated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, to a global maritime framework with particular emphasis on the Global South.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “As maritime neighbours, value his support towards advancing Vision Mahasagar for economic prosperity and security in the region. Confident that his engagements with PM Narendra Modi later today will open new vistas for our cooperation.”
Previously, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had called Seychelles “a key maritime neighbour” that was an important partner in India’s Vision Mahasagar and its commitment to the Global South.
Delighted to call on President Dr. Patrick Herminie of the Republic of Seychelles today in Delhi.
As maritime neighbours, value his support towards advancing #VisionMAHASAGAR for economic prosperity and security in the region.
Confident that his engagements with PM… pic.twitter.com/wgPBKiJOHI
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 9, 2026
Herminie arrived in Delhi after engagements in Chennai and Mumbai where he held multi-sectoral engagements.
In Chennai and Mumbai, Hermini met key stakeholders in the fields of governance, industry, coastal management, and health sector, the MEA said in a statement.
In Chennai, Herminie, along with his health minister, Marvin Nolan Fanny, met Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman, SIMS Hospital, to discuss a collaborative roadmap aimed at strengthening healthcare services in Seychelles through sustainable and long-term healthcare solutions such as super-speciality medical outreach, hospital infrastructure development, digital health integration, workforce support, affordable medicines, and dialysis expansion, according to ANI.
In Mumbai, Herminie met ports and shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal and held discussions at the India-Seychelles Business Roundtable to explore investment and cooperation opportunities with a focus on maritime trade, the blue economy, and sustainable development, as per the news agency.
“India’s engagement with Seychelles is guided by the ‘Mahasagar Vision’ which emphasises economic cooperation, sustainability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region,” Sonowal said at the roundtable, according to PTI.
Sonowal noted that PM Modi’s emphasis on neighbourhood-first engagement, ocean-based cooperation, and inclusive growth has provided clear strategic direction to India’s engagement with island nations of the Indian Ocean, including Seychelles.
Sonowal said India and Seychelles share a common vision of the Indian Ocean as a region of peace, stability and shared prosperity, and added that India’s experience in port-led development, logistics, maritime services and renewable energy can complement Seychelles’ development priorities while Mumbai’s financial and fintech ecosystem can support innovation and financial inclusion initiatives.
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