Saudi Arabian ambassador accredited |26 February 2020

Ambassador Khayat shakes hands with President Faure after presenting his credentials (Photo: Jude Morel)

Newly appointed Saudi Arabian ambassador to Seychelles, Dr Mohammed A. Khayat, yesterday presented his credentials to President Danny Faure, in a brief meet at State House in which they discussed key areas of cooperation between both countries, notably education and health.

They also discussed issues of mutual interest including the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries and the ambassador expressed his wish for the existing strong relationship between Seychelles and Saudi Arabia to continue to progress for the shared benefits of its peoples

“I’m coming to discover ways that can strengthen relations between Seychelles and Saudi Arabia by focusing on tourism and the blue economy,” said Ambassador Khayat.

He added that increasing the number of visitors from Saudi Arabia to Seychelles as well as increasing foreign direct investments from the Arab state are some of the areas of cooperation which he is seeking to develop.

Through bilateral collaboration, Seychelles has received an assistance from the Saudi Development Fund in the energy sector to the amount of $20 million to have a 33KV transmission and distribution electricity network for the southern region of Mahé.

The Saudi Development Fund has also supported the island nation in the field of environment and climate change in 2013 following the US $9 million in damages caused by the tropical cyclone Felleng.

The ambassador will be based in Kenya and he said he will be visiting Seychelles from time to time. He continued his visit by meeting with the Minister for Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, Maurice Loustau-Lalanne and the Minister for Habitat, Lands, Infrastructure and Land Transport, Pamela Charlette.

Christophe Zialor