Seychelles President arrives in Chennai on first State visit to India

New Delhi, Feb 5: Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie arrived in Chennai on Thursday on his first State visit to India, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a post on X, said the visit marked “50 years of longstanding and multifaceted India–Seychelles bilateral ties” and extended a warm welcome to President Herminie as he began his five-day official trip.

During his stay in Chennai, the Seychelles President is scheduled to visit SIMS Hospital and Balaji Dental Hospital and will stay at a city hotel. He is accompanied by the First Lady and will meet Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Friday.

President Herminie will travel to Mumbai on February 7 to meet Governor Acharya Devvrat before proceeding to New Delhi, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The visit, which will continue until February 10, is President Herminie’s first trip to India since assuming office in October 2025

India and Seychelles share close historical ties and strong cooperation, particularly in the areas of security and development, reflecting a long-standing relationship rooted in friendship and mutual understanding.