Speaker Ernesta leads parliamentary delegation on official visit to India |12 September 2026
From Tuesday, September 1 to Sunday, September 6, 2026, a parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles, Hon. Azarel Ernesta, undertook an official visit to the Republic of India, with engagements in New Delhi and Mumbai at the invitation of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla.
The visit aimed to strengthen the longstanding relations between Seychelles and India, deepen inter‑parliamentary cooperation, and facilitate exchanges on parliamentary practices, institutional development, and other areas of mutual interest. It also underscored the role of parliamentary diplomacy in fostering people‑to‑people exchanges and bilateral ties.
The Speaker was accompanied by Hon. Churchill Gill, Hon. Sandy Arissol, Hon. Claudette Louise, Hon. Valdana Sultan, deputy Clerk Alexandria Faure, director in the Office of the Speaker Nickey Antat, and security officer Dave Payet. The visit was particularly significant as Seychelles and India mark 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2026. The high commissioner of Seychelles to India, Lalatiana Accouche, also accompanied the delegation.
Engagements in New Delhi
From September 1 to 3, the delegation was based in New Delhi. The programme began with a tribute at the Rajghat Memorial, where Speaker Ernesta laid a wreath and members offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. She described the occasion as “a deeply moving moment of peace and reflection”.
The delegation then toured the Parliament House Complex, visiting the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Chambers, the Museum, and the Parliamentary Library. Members received detailed briefings on parliamentary procedures, including digitisation and artificial intelligence (AI) systems used within Parliament.
Speaker Ernesta was formally received by Speaker Om Birla for a bilateral dialogue attended by the secretary‑general of the Lok Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh, and distinguished parliamentarians.
Speaker Birla congratulated Speaker Ernesta on her election as the first woman Speaker of Seychelles’ National Assembly and emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary cooperation.
Discussions explored collaboration in parliamentary diplomacy, digital systems, AI, Committee structures, and capacity building.
Speaker Ernesta expressed appreciation for the invitation and highlighted potential cooperation in legislative drafting and empowering more women to participate in Parliament.
On September 3, the delegation visited the Kalkaji Mandir Temple before meeting the Vice‑President of India and chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, H.E. Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, at Parliament House. Talks focused on maritime security, renewable energy, and parliamentary capacity building, as well as the application of AI in translation and archival services. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of closer engagement and exchange of best practices.
Engagements in Mumbai
On September 4, the delegation travelled to Mumbai, visiting the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at Vidhan Bhavan. Members toured the Chambers of the Lower and Upper Houses and discussed digitisation, parliamentary composition, and procedures.
Speaker Ernesta held a bilateral dialogue with Speaker Shri Rahul Narwekar, accompanied by deputy chairperson Shri Sachin Ahir and parliamentary officials.
Speaker Narwekar welcomed the Seychelles delegation and highlighted the strong relations between the two countries. Talks explored cooperation in capacity building, exchange of best practices, and further digitalisation of parliamentary processes.
The delegation was also hosted by the Mumbai Port Authority at the International Cruise Terminal, where they were received by deputy chairperson Shri Adesh Titarmare, IAS. Members were briefed on port facilities and operations, toured infrastructure, and discussed tourism and maritime connectivity along India’s western coast, with particular interest in sustainable measures and legislative frameworks supporting environmental protection.
On the final day, the delegation visited the Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple, where members received traditional blessings.
Strengthening parliamentary diplomacy
The official visit marked an important step in deepening inter‑parliamentary relations between Seychelles and India. High‑level engagements provided valuable opportunities to exchange experiences and identify areas for continued cooperation, particularly in capacity building, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, legislative drafting, and Committee systems.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of both sides to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and institutional cooperation, while contributing to the longstanding friendship and bilateral ties between Seychelles and India.
(The accompanying photos show some highlights of the parliamentary delegation’s visit to India).
Press release – National Assembly