Welcoming the esteemed guest at Hyderabad House! PM @narendramodi received the President of Seychelles Danny Antoin… https://t.co/ANcYrPiRBR — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) 1529909621000

NEW DELHI: India extended a $100 million line of credit to Seychelles on Monday as the two countries agreed to work on the stalled Assumption Island Project keeping each other’s interests in mind. Keeping in view the strategic nature of bilateral ties, India gifted a Dornier aircraft to Seychelles.“India and Seychelles are committed to maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region,” Modi said in a media statement with Seychelles president Danny Faure after Monday's delegation talks. “We have agreed to work on the Assumption Island project based on each other’s rights.” The Dornier, Modi said, would arrive in Seychelles in time to participate in their national day celebrations on June 29."India and Seychelles are major strategic partners. We respect the core values of a democracy and share the geo-strategic vision to maintain the peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean," added Modi.In his remarks, Faure concurred, saying, "Assumption Island project was discussed, we are equally engaged and will work together bearing each other's interests," he said.India, Modi said, was committed to working with Seychelles to help the 115-island archipelago combat traditional and non-traditional threats from drug trafficking to piracy.India will also provide grants for civilian projects in Seychelles — among others, this will include the building of the Government house, police headquarters and the attorney general’s office. India and Seychelles signed six agreements on Monday— on small development projects along with the government, white shipping agreement, twinning agreement between Panaji and Victoria, Seychelles, cyber-security, exchange between Foreign Service Institute and the Seychelles foreign office and cultural exchanges. India will also add more slots for Seychelles in the successful ITEC programme.Although Faure had said earlier that he would not discuss the Assumption Island project in India, the matter did come up between the two sides during their formal discussions. Faure’s visit comes days after his government stated that they would not present the $500-million Assumption Island agreement for ratification to their parliament, dealing a blow to India’s maritime aspirations. The agreement has come under popular criticism and the opposition party has refused to support the government on this.However, sources here said, Seychelles was too important for India to sulk and turn away — instead India has decided to deepen and diversify its engagement with the Indian Ocean country. In their discussions, Indian leadership has told the Seychelles delegation that while the Assumption Island project would remain as an agreement between two sovereign nations, the progress on the project would be at a pace comfortable to Seychelles.Earlier Faure received a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan .MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "Welcoming the esteemed guest at Hyderabad House! PM @narendramodi received the President of Seychelles Danny Antoine Rollen Faure for bilateral talks. Special ties with a maritime neighbour."Seychelles president Danny Faure is on a six-day visit to India.