Mrs. Olivia Berkeley-Christmann is the new ambassador of the Republic of France in Seychelles.

She presented her credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan at State House yesterday morning.

Ms. Berkeley-Christmann succeeds Dominique Mas who held this position from October 2019 to September 2022.

In an interview with the local press following her meeting with the Seychellois head of state, the new ambassador described the relationship between the two countries as “excellent”. She praised the work of her predecessors and the France team.

“I am delighted to find here a team motivated to continue to work for this excellent relationship and to further develop it, particularly on regional cooperation”, said Ambassador Berkeley-Christmann.

She said that during her mandate, she will translate this excellent relationship into concrete projects and actions, “whether at the regional level in terms of maritime security projects, the fight against drug trafficking, but also to continue to work for La Francophonie, with this language that we share with the Seychelles”.

Ms Berkeley-Christmann added that she will also develop cooperation in areas that her predecessor, Mr Mas started to develop, including agriculture, the blue economy, as well as the fight against climate change “which is really a subject of interest shared with France and it is part of this strategy launched since 2018 by President (Emmanuel) Macron. A great Indo-Pacific strategy, and the Franco-Seychellois relationship is fully in line with this partnership,” she said.

The establishment of diplomatic relations between France and Seychelles dates back to June 29, 1976 and for years the two countries have had cooperation in several areas, namely education, health, tourism, among others.

Prior to her appointment as Ambassador to the Seychelles, Ms Berkeley-Christmann was Consul General  of France  in  Düsseldorf , Germany.

She is based in the Seychelles.

Source: Seychelles Nation