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The meeting occurred during Vice President Pillay’s four-day visit to the Kingdom for follow-up discussions with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, according to a statement issued by Seychelles’ State House on Sept. 1. Pillay’s trip, which runs through Sept. 4, builds on prior talks between President Patrick Herminie and BADEA President Abdullah KH Almusaibeeh held on the margins of a Southern African Development Community summit in Durban. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the discussions with Prince Faisal reviewed existing frameworks and identified further opportunities for joint work.
Seychelles’ State House indicated that the BADEA meetings seek to advance financing options tied to national priorities in infrastructure and related fields. BADEA publications show the bank has extended support for multiple projects in Seychelles over the past decade, focusing on economic and social development. Vice President Pillay, who also manages portfolios in digital transformation and disaster risk management, is positioned to link these talks to broader technical cooperation with Saudi partners.
Bilateral relations advanced significantly in 2023 when Prince Faisal signed a general cooperation agreement with Seychelles officials during the Saudi-African Summit, the Saudi Press Agency reported at the time. That pact established mechanisms for closer coordination on political, economic and multilateral issues. Recent accreditation ceremonies have echoed similar themes, with Seychelles President Herminie and Saudi Ambassador-designate Saad Abdullah Alnofaia discussing tourism, investment, trade, energy and development cooperation on Sept. 1, according to State House Seychelles.
Support from the Saudi Fund for Development has included contributions to education and housing initiatives in Seychelles, prior records from the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm. Tourism cooperation received particular attention in the latest talks given Saudi Arabia’s expanding outbound market and Seychelles’ interest in increasing visitor numbers from the Kingdom. Officials referenced earlier proposals for improved air connectivity as a means to boost business and people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides exchanged views on selected regional and international matters, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted, without releasing further specifics on agreements reached. Seychelles has regularly stressed climate resilience and blue economy measures in its foreign engagements, areas that align with Saudi renewable energy capabilities. The discussions fit within Saudi Arabia’s wider engagement with African partners under its Vision 2030 program, according to ministry statements.
