India–Seychelles Cooperation And The Blue Economy

Context: The article examines how India and Seychelles can combine marine conservation, economic development and maritime security through a wider blue-economy partnership.

Source: “India-Seychelles Relations: Exploring Blue Economy Opportunities,” Observer Research Foundation, July 20, 2026.

Core Points

• Seychelles occupies a strategic position in the western Indian Ocean, close to routes connecting Africa, West Asia and South Asia.
• The 2026 agreements expanded cooperation in marine science, hydrography, food security, health, digital transformation and capacity building.
• The SESEL vision connects sustainability and economic growth with maritime security and institutional linkages.
• Cooperation can cover ocean observation, fisheries management, marine biotechnology, coastal resilience and hydrographic training.
• India has assisted Seychelles with maritime-domain awareness, patrol assets, coastal surveillance and capacity building.
• Digital initiatives and payment connectivity can support tourism, small businesses and people-to-people economic activity.
• Dependence on marine resources and tourism makes coral degradation, sea-level rise, illegal fishing and marine pollution important economic-security concerns.
• Blue-economy development must prevent overexploitation and ensure that coastal communities share its benefits.
• The partnership supports India’s engagement with African island states and its MAHASAGAR vision.

Prelims Relevance

• Seychelles is an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar.
• Its capital, Victoria, is located on Mahé Island.
• Seychelles is a member of the African Union, Commonwealth and Indian Ocean Rim Association.
• An archipelagic state consists wholly of one or more archipelagos and may include other islands.

Mains Relevance

GS II: Relations with African and Indian Ocean states.
GS III: Blue economy, maritime security and sustainable marine-resource use.
GS II: Development partnerships and South–South cooperation.

Supporting Fact Box

• The blue economy concerns the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic activity, livelihoods and ecosystem health.
• Hydrography measures oceans, coastal waters and navigable waterways for charting, navigation and resource management.
• Under UNCLOS, an exclusive economic zone may extend up to 200 nautical miles from the applicable baselines.
• An EEZ gives the coastal state sovereign rights over natural resources but not complete territorial sovereignty.
• Seychelles was the first country to issue a sovereign blue bond for sustainable marine and fisheries projects.