President of Seychelles this morning received AUC Chairperson

H.E. Dr. Patrick Herminie, President of the Republic of #Seychelles , this morning received H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, at State House.

President Herminie expressed his appreciation to the Chairperson for accepting his invitation to participate in the commemorations marking the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Seychelles. He commended Chairperson Youssouf's leadership of the AU Commission & his commitment to advancing the Union's priorities & the shared aspirations of the African continent.

The President noted that Seychelles continues to register strong economic performance, while observing that recent developments in the Middle East have adversely affected the country's tourism sector. He underscored that climate change remains an existential challenge for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), highlighting the close cooperation between Seychelles & Mauritius in advancing sustainable ocean governance & climate resilience.

He further reaffirmed that the blue economy remains a cornerstone of Seychelles' development strategy, with continued efforts focused on enhancing value addition within the fisheries sector.

Chairperson Youssouf thanked President Herminie for the invitation to participate in the independence celebrations & expressed his appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to him & his delegation.

The Chairperson commended President Herminie's leadership, noting Seychelles' continued economic resilience & political stability despite the challenges posed by disruptions to maritime navigation & the growing impacts of climate change.

He reaffirmed the AU's commitment to working closely with all Member States to advance collective peace, stability & shared prosperity, emphasising the strategic importance of Africa's island nations in achieving the continent's development agenda.

Chairperson Youssouf further underscored Seychelles' leadership in demonstrating the transformative potential of the blue economy, noting that the vast maritime domains of Seychelles & Mauritius constitute strategic assets for the African continent. He also encouraged Seychelles to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to further expand its access to African markets & strengthen intra-African trade & investment.