Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla held a bilateral parliamentary dialogue with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles, Hon'ble Ms. Azarel Yolanda Ernesta, and the Seychelles Parliamentary Delegation at the Parliament House Complex on September 2, 2026. The meeting celebrated the 50th anniversary of Seychelles' independence and 50 years of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles.
Shri Birla congratulated Ms. Ernesta on her historic election as the first woman Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles and noted her abiding interest in India's spiritual traditions, particularly Yoga and devotion to Goddess Ma Kali. He highlighted the deep civilizational connections between the two countries, vibrant Indian diaspora, and enduring people-to-people ties that transcend conventional diplomacy.
The discussions emphasized shared democratic values and traditions, with particular focus on India's offer to support popularizing Yoga in Seychelles through Indian instructors. Reference was made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent State Visit to Seychelles, where he addressed an Extraordinary Sitting of the National Assembly - becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so - which was noted to have infused new energy into bilateral relations.
Parliamentary cooperation opportunities were extensively discussed, including Ms. Ernesta's previous participation in a training programme organized by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (now PRIDE). Shri Birla invited Members of the National Assembly of Seychelles to visit the Indian Parliament and offered customised programmes on Legislative Drafting, parliamentary procedures, and other legislative processes through PRIDE.
Technology cooperation featured prominently, with India showcasing its paperless Parliament initiative, use of Artificial Intelligence for translating proceedings into 22 Indian languages, and Digital Parliament platform. Both parties identified potential cooperation areas including health, digital transformation, infrastructure, and renewable energy.
Ms. Ernesta expressed gratitude for the hospitality and described India as the 'mother of democracy,' noting that Indians were among the earliest settlers in Seychelles and that Indic culture is deeply woven into the nation's social fabric. She appreciated India's digital parliament advancements and both leaders emphasized working together to amplify the voice of the Global South through multilateral forums.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. D. Purandeswari, MP; Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, MP; and Smt. Himadri Singh, MP.