India and Seychelles Discuss Strengthening Strategic Cooperation in Blue Economy and Fisheries
India and Seychelles held a high-level meeting to bolster bilateral cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture, and the blue economy. Both nations agreed to develop a roadmap for the sustainable use of marine resources and enhance technical exchanges. The discussions focused on potential joint development in areas such as digital innovation, the application of artificial intelligence, and tuna processing.
The Department of Fisheries of the Government of India and a delegation from Seychelles recently held a high-level bilateral meeting. The Indian side was led by Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, while the Seychelles delegation was headed by Minister Wallace Cosgrow. The primary objective of the meeting was to review existing maritime cooperation between the two nations and prepare a concrete action plan for the future.
Both countries emphasized the necessity of mutual synergy for food security and economic stability in the Indian Ocean region. India shared its achievements in the fisheries sector, noting that the country's fish production has reached a record level of 19.7 million tonnes. Additionally, the value of marine food exports was recorded at 8.46 billion dollars.
During the discussions, special attention was given to technical areas such as marine aquaculture, the establishment of modern hatcheries, and improving tuna fishing techniques. Both sides stressed the need for institutional training programs and joint scientific studies to facilitate knowledge transfer.
To promote innovation, deliberations were also held on the use of artificial intelligence and data systems. The delegations agreed on adopting new technologies for post-harvest management and the development of value chains.
the Seychelles delegation expressed keen interest in accelerating cooperation through a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture. They suggested establishing an institutional framework for continuous dialogue between administrative bodies and researchers.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve that both nations would transform their diplomatic commitments into result-oriented plans. The goal is to secure maritime prosperity through regular visits and technical exchanges in the future.