Strengthening cooperation with Seychelles

Japan will establish its embassy and appoint a resident ambassador in Victoria. Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko announced this during bilateral talks with Seychelles’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde.

This decision is part of the Japanese government’s reaffirmation of its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Seychelles, according to a statement. To achieve this, Japan plans to upgrade its embassy in the island nation, which is currently headed by a chargé d’affaires.

The bilateral talks between Radegonde and Kamikawa Yoko took place on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of theTokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Japan from August 24 to 25. The discussions focused on common interests, including maritime security, the blue economy, fishing, and connectivity.

Kamikawa highlighted the support provided by Japan in recent years, particularly in maritime law enforcement, facilitated by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), to improve maritime connectivity in the region. Radegonde expressed his gratitude to Japan for its commitment to remaining a key partner in various critical sectors for Seychelles and the Indian Ocean Commission.

He also requested that Japan continue supporting Seychelles’ capacity-building efforts by granting scholarships. Radegonde emphasized the importance of Japan’s support for Seychelles in areas such as climate change adaptation and resilience, and he sought Japan’s help in advocating for the plight of small island developing states (SIDS).