India, Seychelles agree to work on naval base project

India and Seychelles on Monday agreed to work on the Assomption Island naval base project keeping each other’s interest in mind as New Delhi promised a $100 million line of credit to the Indian Ocean archipelago nation to strengthen its defence capabilities.

“On the issue of Assomption Island, we are ready to work together on the basis of each other’s interest,” PM Narendra Modi said at a joint press meet with Seychelles President Danny Faure after talks between the two leaders at Hyderabad House.

The agreement allowing India to build naval facilities on Assomption Island was signed by the two countries during Modi’s first visit to Seychelles in 2015. The opposition in Seychelles is against the pact on concerns about sovereignty.

Faure is on his first bilateral visit to India at the invitation of President Ram Nath Kovind. He visited Ahmedabad and Goa before landing in Delhi.

Expressing the intention to continue the dialogue on the issue, Faure, too, said: “In the context of maritime security, Assomption Island was discussed. We are equally engaged and will continue to work together bearing each other’s interest in mind. “We have underscored our commitment to remain at the heart of joint initiatives and collective efforts to stimulate and facilitate cooperation in fields representing priorities on the sub-regional, regional and continental agendas.”

NEWDELHI: NEW DELHI PROMISED A $100 MN LINE OF CREDIT TO THE INDIAN OCEAN ARCHIPELAGO NATION TO STRENGTHEN ITS DEFENCE CAPABILITIES