President of the Republic Dr Patrick Herminie held bilateral talks with President of the Czech Republic H.E. Petr Pavel on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss avenues for strengthening cooperation between Seychelles and the Czech Republic, with particular attention to areas where Czech expertise and technology could support Seychelles’ development priorities.

President Pavel highlighted the potential for Czech companies to explore opportunities in Seychelles in sectors including agriculture, transport, smart city solutions and water management. He noted that Czech businesses have experience in providing tailored solutions in different countries and expressed the view that cooperation could be based on partnerships, technology transfer and the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises. He emphasised that the role of government is to help open opportunities for businesses from both countries to connect and identify areas where they can work together, while ensuring that cooperation responds to the specific needs of each country.

The two Presidents also discussed opportunities for greater cooperation in training and education. President Pavel described education as an important bridge between countries and highlighted the longstanding links created through students from different African countries who studied in the former Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic.

President Dr Patrick Herminie took the opportunity to express Seychelles’ interest in deepening cooperation between the University of Seychelles and Czech universities, including Charles University, through academic exchanges, joint research and short-term placements.

He noted that areas of mutual interest could include medicine, environmental science, aquatic ecosystems, biodiversity and climate resilience.

The discussion also touched on areas of specialised training, including the Czech Republic’s experience in training service dogs, with the possibility of exploring opportunities for exchanges and cooperation in this field.

On international cooperation, President Pavel underlined the Czech Republic’s support for strong international institutions and a rules-based international system, including the role of the United Nations in providing a framework for cooperation among countries. He also informed President Herminie of the Czech Republic’s intention to present its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2032–2033 term and expressed his country’s interest in Seychelles’ support.

The talks also provided an opportunity to reflect on the historical links between the Czech Republic and Seychelles, including the presence of Seychellois and Czech nationals who have contributed to exchanges between the two countries over the years. Both sides expressed the view that there is scope to further develop relations between Seychelles and the Czech Republic, particularly through business partnerships, education, training and the exchange of expertise.

President Herminie was accompanied at the meeting by members of the Seychelles delegation attending the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.