The Vice-President of India, Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, arrived in Seychelles on Monday September 8, along with a large contingent of officials and diplomats. 

The Indian Air Force jet carrying Vice-President Shekhawat and the delegation touched down shortly after 5 o’clock on Monday afternoon, greeted by Vice-President James Michel, Foreign Affairs minister Jeremie Bonnelame and Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles His Excellency Malay Mishra. 

A number of prominent Indians in the Seychelles community, lined along the red carpet on the airport tarmac, were also on hand to greet the vice-president. 

Vice-President Shekhawat will be making a number of stops on his five-day diplomatic visit to Seychelles, the first of which is a meeting with Vice-President Michel on Tuesday September 9,  at State House.

He will also meet with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Health, the Minister for Environment, the Chief of Staff of the Seychelles People's Defence Forces (SPDF) and other senior government officials. 

The Indian Vice-President will also address a special session of the National Assembly on Tuesday September 9,  and later on interact with its members.

Four major memoranda, which were finalised recently between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, are expected to be signed. They relate to science and technology, health, defence and culture.

A Joint Statement will also be signed at the conclusion of the visit.

Additional discussions will focus on other key bilateral issues such as trade, finance, investment, small industries and environment.

The visit of Vice-President Shekhawat is at the invitation of VP Michel, who visited India in March, 1999.

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