Victoria: The Ambassador-designate of the Kingdom of Norway to the Republic of Seychelles, Her Excellency Ms Siv Cathrine Moe, met with Ambassador Ian Madeleine, the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, at Maison Qu©au de Quinssy. This meeting took place on Monday, 31 August 2026, ahead of her formal presentation of Letters of Credence.
According to African Press Organization, the discussions between the two diplomats focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in several key areas of mutual interest. Notably, maritime security emerged as a critical theme, with both Seychelles and Norway emphasizing the need for continued collaboration to address pressing challenges such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, piracy, and illicit drug trafficking.
Both nations, being coastal, recognized the opportunity to deepen their partnership by sharing experiences and expertise in sustainable fisheries and the Blue Economy. The dialogue extended to other areas, including mental health, renewable energy, disaster risk management, and tourism, highlighting the multifaceted nature of their relationship.
Furthermore, the potential for increased connectivity between Seychelles and Norway through a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) was acknowledged. Ambassador Madeleine also highlighted the challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in securing climate finance and stressed the importance of resilience financing. Seychelles expressed appreciation for Norway's support of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), which aims to better address these challenges.
Ambassador Madeleine extended his best wishes to Ms Moe for success in her new role as Ambassador.