Maritime matters prioritised for bilateral cooperation
Exploring enhanced cooperation
SEYCHELLES: Recognising their status as coastal nations, Norway and Seychelles are discussing areas of mutual interest and cooperation across maritime themes.
The Ambassador-designate of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Seychelles, Siv Cathrine Moe, paid a courtesy call on the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Ambassador Ian Madeleine, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy, ahead of the presentation of her Letters of Credence.
During the meeting, the two diplomats discussed a range of areas of mutual interest, including maritime security, which has been an important area of cooperation between Seychelles and Norway. In this regard, they underscored the importance of continued cooperation in addressing challenges such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy and illicit drug trafficking.
As coastal nations, Seychelles and Norway recognised the significant potential to further strengthen bilateral cooperation through the exchange of experience, knowledge and expertise, particularly in the areas of sustainable fisheries and the Blue Economy.
The two sides also noted the potential to enhance connectivity between Seychelles and Norway through the conclusion of a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).
The Principal Secretary highlighted the significant challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in accessing adequate and predictable climate finance, which can constrain their ability to effectively address climate-related challenges. In this context, Seychelles underscored the importance of scaling up resilience financing and welcomed Norway’s strong support for the adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).
273