Seychelles Ambassador accredited to Italy

Ambassador Bernard Shamlaye presented his credentials as Seychelles Ambassador to Italy to President Giorgio Napolitano on 12th March at the Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome. President Napolitano reciprocated President James Michel’s warm wishes and his desire to strengthen the long-standing good relations and co-operation between the two countries.
Discussions between the Ambassador and President Napolitano and Italian officials centred on maritime security and the promotion of peace, stability and development in the Eastern Africa sub-region; the promotion of Seychelles tourism in Italy; and cooperation in the fields of culture, training and higher education, health, agriculture and fisheries. They agreed that the recently-launched Italy-Africa Initiative should also develop co-operation between Italy and the island states of Africa.
Ambassador Shamlaye highlighted the importance being given by Seychelles to the promotion of the Blue Economy as a crucial element for the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States. He noted that there is a relationship between promoting the Blue Economy and Expo 2015 to be held in Milan under the theme “Feeding the Planet; Energy for Life”.
Mr Paolo Adelmann, the Seychelles Honorary Consul General in Rome, accompanied Ambassador Shamlaye for the accreditation ceremony.