7 February 2026·PIB

India, Seychelles Explore Maritime, Blue Economy Cooperation at Business Roundtable in Mumbai

In this note

1. At a Glance

Indo-Seychelles Business Roundtable held in Mumbai on 7 February 2026 to deepen maritime trade, blue economy and sustainable-development ties [1][2].
Anchored in PM Modi's Vision MAHASAGAR ("Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions"), the successor framework to SAGAR [3][1].
UPSC relevance: India's Indian Ocean Region (IOR) diplomacy, blue-economy policy, and small-island-state (SIDS) outreach — GS-II/GS-III staple.

State visit of Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie to India (briefing held 9 Feb 2026); roundtable on 7 Feb 2026 co-attended by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal [1][2][4].
Issuance of an India–Seychelles Joint Vision for sustainability, economic growth and security through enhanced linkages [5].

SAGAR doctrine (Security and Growth for All in the Region) announced by PM Modi in Mauritius, 2015; upgraded to MAHASAGAR in March 2025 during PM's Mauritius visit [3].
India–Seychelles diplomatic ties since 1976; cooperation spans development assistance, capacity building, maritime security, hydrography and disaster response [2].
Indian Navy's MAHASAGAR virtual interaction launched 2023, conducted bi-annually; third edition on 5 Nov 2024 included Seychelles among 10 IOR littorals [3].
IOS SAGAR (Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR) and AIKEYME (Africa India Key Maritime Engagement) are operational arms of MAHASAGAR [3].

Implementing ministries (Indian side): Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW); Ministry of External Affairs [1][4].
Union Minister, MoPSW: Sarbananda Sonowal [1].
Seychelles President: Dr. Patrick Herminie [1].
MAHASAGAR full form: Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions [3].
Blue-economy sectors flagged: fisheries, aquaculture, port development, marine infrastructure, ocean-based renewable energy, marine research [1].
Wider cooperation basket: tourism & hospitality, renewable energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services, fintech, education & skills [1].
IOR participants in MAHASAGAR Nov 2024 dialogue: Bangladesh, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania [3].

Geopolitical / Strategic

Seychelles sits astride western IOR sea-lanes, vital for India's anti-piracy and SLOC security posture [2][3].
Counterweights extra-regional naval presence; reinforces India as "first responder & preferred security partner" in IOR [3].
Joint Vision reinforces maritime security & defence domain cooperation [5].

Economic

Blue-economy thrust dovetails with India's Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047; India Maritime Week 2025 secured ₹12 lakh-crore investment commitments [6].
Opens Indian private-sector access in Seychelles ports, fisheries, fintech [1].

Environmental

Focus on sustainable fisheries, ocean renewable energy, marine research aligns with SDG-14 (Life Below Water) [1].
Climate-vulnerable SIDS partnership: addresses sea-level rise, IUU fishing [1].

Administrative / Diplomatic

Hybrid model: G2G (state visit, joint vision) + B2B (business roundtable in Mumbai — India's maritime capital) [1][4].

March 2025: PM Modi announces Vision MAHASAGAR in Mauritius [3].
Oct 2025: India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai inaugurated by HM Amit Shah; ₹12 lakh-crore investments [6].
5 Nov 2024: 3rd MAHASAGAR virtual interaction with IOR navy chiefs [3].
7 Feb 2026: Indo-Seychelles Business Roundtable, Mumbai [1].
9 Feb 2026: MEA special briefing on Seychelles President's state visit [4].
Feb 2026: India–Seychelles Joint Vision document released [5].

MAHASAGAR = Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions [3].
MAHASAGAR succeeds/extends SAGAR (2015); announced by PM in Mauritius (2025) [3].
IOS SAGAR = Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR, operational arm of MAHASAGAR [3].
AIKEYME = Africa India Key Maritime Engagement [3].
Indo-Seychelles Business Roundtable held at Mumbai, 7 Feb 2026 [1].
Union Minister attending: Sarbananda Sonowal (Ports, Shipping & Waterways) [1].
Seychelles President: Dr. Patrick Herminie [1].
India–Seychelles diplomatic ties established 1976 [2].
MAHASAGAR Navy dialogue (Nov 2024) included 10 IOR littorals [3].
Blue-economy sectors listed: fisheries, aquaculture, ports, marine infra, ocean renewables, marine research [1].
NITI Aayog report: "India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries" [7].
India Maritime Week 2025 investment pledges: ₹12 lakh crore [6].

GS-II: India and its Neighbourhood; Bilateral groupings involving India (Indian Ocean diplomacy).
GS-III: Blue Economy; Maritime security; Infrastructure (Ports & Shipping).
Probable question stems: 1. "From SAGAR to MAHASAGAR — discuss the evolution of India's Indian Ocean doctrine and its strategic significance." 2. "Examine the role of small island developing states like Seychelles in India's blue-economy and maritime-security calculus." 3. "India's western Indian Ocean strategy hinges on Mauritius, Seychelles and Madagascar. Comment."

SAGAR Doctrine (2015) — direct predecessor of MAHASAGAR.
Colombo Security Conclave — overlapping IOR security architecture.
IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) — multilateral blue-economy forum.
Maritime India Vision 2030 / Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 — domestic policy anchor.
Deep Ocean Mission (MoES) — blue-economy science pillar.
PM-MKSSY / PMMSY — fisheries flagship overlapping with blue economy.
Assumption Island & Agalega projects — comparator strategic infra in IOR.
IUU fishing & UNCLOS — regulatory backdrop.

Ministry mix-up: Roundtable is MoPSW-led, not MEA-led; but state visit is MEA-coordinated.
MAHASAGAR ≠ SAGAR: MAHASAGAR (2025) is an extension across regions, not just IOR; SAGAR (2015) was IOR-specific.
MAHASAGAR has two avatars — PM's geopolitical Vision (2025) and Navy's virtual interaction (since 2023). Don't conflate.
Seychelles President's name — Dr. Patrick Herminie (assumed office 2023), not Wavel Ramkalawan (predecessor).
Blue Economy is not in the Constitution; NITI Aayog drafted the Blue Economy policy framework.