New Czech republic ambassador says excellent opportunities exist for economic cooperation with Seychelles

The newly accredited ambassador of the Czech Republic to Seychelles Karel Hejč pictured at State House this morning. (Mervyn Marie, Seychelles News Agency)

(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles and the Czech Republic are seeking ways to build stronger ties in various fields including education, air services, agriculture amongst other areas that are of mutual interest.

The newly accredited ambassador of the Czech Republic to Seychelles Karel Hejč said this during a press interview this morning.

He was speaking after he had presented his credentials to the Seychelles President James Michel at State House.

“We’re quite far apart, and as small countries we are more dependent on cooperation with our immediate neighbours, but that should not stop us into venturing in new fields were our two countries can and should cooperate… You now have your own university, of which I’m glad. Your university and our universities can cooperate and there are a number of programmes which can be ‘cross-managed’,” said Hejč in a press statement issued by State House this afternoon.

According to the statement he has described as “very good” the relations that exist between the Czech Republic and Seychelles, which dates back to after the Indian Ocean archipelago gained its Independence.

Hejč who is the sixth Czech ambassador to be accredited to the island nation is also of the view that there can be excellent opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries considering their sizes.

Opprtunities which he said “exceed by far many other African countries which are much bigger and have much easier access than Seychelles."

The many challenges that small countries like seychelles have to face and the need to give more content to the Czech-Seychelles partnership in light of those global challenges are some of the issues with he said was also discussed during the meeting with the Seychellois head of state.

The newly accredited Czech ambassador to Seychelles Karel Hejč is based in Addis Abba, Ethiopia.