India and Seychelles deepen ties with maritime cooperation and UPI rollout
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four‑day state visit to the Seychelles reinforced the island nation’s strategic partnership with India. India reinstated four military advisers to work with Seychelles’ defense forces, handed over a fast‑patrol vessel, laser boats and utility vehicles, and sent two navy ships to the country's 50th independence celebrations.
During the talks New Delhi and Victoria signed a $175 million special economic package, a line of credit for development projects, and an agreement to introduce India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the Seychelles financial system, with the payment network slated to be operational by the end of 2026.
The leaders also discussed cooperation in health, education, digital transformation, renewable energy and space. A proposed Indian naval base on Assumption Island was formally stone‑walled by Seychelles authorities, reflecting local opposition to projects that could entangle the country in India‑China competition in the Indian Ocean.