Korea boosts visiting dignitaries’ car fleet |05 April 2013

They were handed over by Korean ambassador Chan Woo Kim to Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam in the presence of staff of the ministry and a visiting Korean delegation from Nairobi.

Mr Kim said ties between our two countries have been significantly strengthened since President James Michel visited Korea in 2009 and 2012 and people-to-people contact between Seychellois and Koreans have been on the rise.

He said visits between the two countries have also been on the rise and so have business links and tourism, which have been made easier by the signing of a memorandum of understanding for cultural exchanges and cooperation between Suncheon City and Seychelles.

Mr Adam said the Hyundai Sonatas will prove invaluable as they enhance the ease and efficiency of the ministry’s daily operations.

He said Hyundai is a Korean brand that is internationally renowned for manufacturing quality vehicles and the model got a Top Safety Pick Award in 2012 – from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety – so we can rest assured that both our staff and our visitors will be travelling not only in style, but also safely.

“In the field of international diplomacy, first impressions are often what matter most, so when a foreign delegation visits Seychelles, their first point of contact with our ministry is when they step into one of our vehicles to be taken to their hotel or – on some occasions – even directly to one of our meetings! These cars will certainly help in enhancing first impressions,” said Mr Adam.

He thanked the government of Korea for the generous and invaluable gesture which he said shows Korea’s steadfast commitment to promoting further the already solid ties of friendship and cooperation between our two countries.

The Korean government has helped the ministry and others with vehicles on several other occasions, for example in 2004 and 2007.