President Wavel Ramkalawan and delegation welcomed in Doha |22 March 2021

President Ramkalawan on his arrival at the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar

Seychelles, Qatar committed to boosting ties to greater heights

Seychelles and Qatar are set to strengthen and diversify relations of cooperation between the two nations.

This emerged yesterday following talks between President Wavel Ramkalawan and the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The two leaders highlighted the deep bonds of friendship that have existed between the two countries for over three decades and expressed their shared commitment to further elevating collaborations to new heights.

During bilateral discussions attended by both the Seychelles presidential delegation, Qatar government ministers and senior officials, key issues of common interest were outlined.

Cooperation and exchange in areas such as tourism, budget support, sharing of technical expertise in addressing Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, maritime security, trade and investment, among others were also discussed.

The two leaders also met for a tête-à-tête before the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoU).

Later in the afternoon, as per tradition for visiting heads of State or head of governments to address young adults enrolled in the Qatar Leadership programme, President Ramkalawan addressed a group of fifteen young Qatari leaders during a high-level dialogue session themed ‘The role of leadership, skills in decision-making process, lessons learned and challenges facing leaders and how to overcome them’.

President Ramkalawan arrived in Doha, Qatar on Saturday at the start of a three-day official visit at the invitation of the Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The President and accompanying delegation comprising First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Sylvestre Radegonde, Minister for Finance, Economic Planning and Trade Naadir Hassan and the Chief of Defence Forces Colonel Michael Rosette, made the voyage onboard a Qatar Airways flight, and weregreeted upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by the Minister for Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, and the ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Seychelles, Jabr bin Ali Al Dossari.

The party was seen off at the Seychelles International Airport by Vice-President Ahmed Afif and acting Commissioner of Police Ted Barbe.

This marks the President’s fourth overseas visit since assuming office in October 2020.

The President undertook his first state visit to neighbouring Mauritius in November 2020, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, to further consolidate ties between the two island states.

He was accompanied on the three-day visit by First Lady Linda Ramkalawan; the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde; the Commander of the Seychelles Coastguard, Colonel Simon Dine; the director for World Affairs and Countries, Patsy Moustache and the senior officer of the Seychelles’ Anti Narcotics Bureau, Yves Leon.

December 2020 saw the first working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the five-day visit between Saturday 12 and Thursday 17, the President was accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, head of the Seychelles mission based in the UAE Ambassador Jean-Claude Adrienne, and the third secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Jonathan Pool. The delegation conducted a series of visits including to the Seychelles Mission, Abu Dhabi Port, the new Abu Dhabi International Airport and Masdar City, and met with the Seychellois community in the UAE.

The President and Minister Radegonde undertook a second working visit to the UAE in February, departing on February 19 and returning on February 22. Among the major outcomes of the visit are that the UAE government confirmed the provision of specialist infrastructure support for two major projects including the La Digue Hospital, and negotiations with regard to the Air Seychelles’ Etihad debt. The President also sought budget support from the UAE government.

The accompanying photographs show some highlights of President Ramkalawan’s first day in Doha.

Laura Pillay/Press release from State House