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According to an MFA communiqué, Ambassador Bonnelame presented his credentials to Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, on Tuesday June 7, 2005.

The communiqué noted that relations between Seychelles and Canada have always been very good. In addition to the bilateral ties, both are Commonwealth and Francophonie countries. In the past a large number of Seychellois were educated by the Canadian brothers and, today, there is a significant Seychellois community settled in Canada.

The communiqué said that the Governor General showed a lot of interest in the Seychelles, especially in the on-going economic reforms being undertaken by President James Michel.

Economic cooperation between the two countries is however minimal, apparently on account of the GDP per capita level of the population.

The communiqué noted that in a meeting the day before with officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr Bonnelame did try to make a case for greater possibility for Seychellois students to gain access to Canadian universities under the Canadian scholarship scheme. Currently, there are only two Seychellois studying in Canada.

Seychelles' teacher training was also discussed, as well as other areas of possible cooperation. Ambassador Bonnelame is to pursue discussions with the Canadian authorities on these issues.

Seychelles and Canada established diplomatic relations in June 1976.