German ambassador presents credentials |16 March 2016

The new Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Seychelles, Jutta Frasch, presented her credentials to President James Michel at State House yesterday morning.

President Michel and Ambassador Frasch shared mutual interests in extending the excellent relations that exist between the two countries in the field of maritime security, particularly in the fight against piracy and the stabilisation of Somalia, as well as in trade and tourism.

They also spoke about new avenues of cooperation in aviation, the Blue economy, fisheries, among others.

Ambassador Frasch told the national media that there will be a second flight of the charter company Condor coming to Seychelles, from November 2016 every week.

She spoke lengthily about security in the region, which she described as an important part of the cooperation between Germany and Seychelles.

“A very important part of our cooperation is security in the area and that is the fight against piracy where the EU of which Germany is an important part and the Seychelles has excellent cooperation over the last years. We have this anti-piracy programme, EUNavfor's Operation Atalanta, the European mission in the Indian Ocean and this is a mission which has been very successful. I think security has come back, without security there’s nothing. I understand that Seychelles is an important partner in the state building process of Somalia where Germany is extremely engaged. The insecurity in Somalia is one of the causes of migration in Somalia,” she said.

Ambassador Frasch added: “We have many areas of cooperation, there’s also trade which can be extended; there’s a vast potential for it. Seychelles is going to increase the capacity of the port here in Victoria and I think German companies could help very well in doing this project which is going to be co-financed by the European Investment bank. So, I think that there are so many areas that we’re going to work together again.”

Ambassador Jutta Frasch is based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Also present during the meeting were the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport, Joël Morgan; the President's diplomatic adviser, Ambassador Callixte D'Offay; and the honorary consul of Germany in Seychelles, Kerstin Henri and Lieutenant Colonel Manfred Hoengesberg, Military Attaché.