Maritime security a key focus of cooperation, says Germany's new ambassador to Seychelles

The new German Ambassador to Seychelles Jutta Frasch presenting her credentials to the Seychelles President James Michel on Tuesday. (Joena Bonnelame, Seychelles News Agency)

(Seychelles News Agency) - The newly accredited ambassador of Germany to Seychelles has highlighted maritime security as an important part of existing cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Jutta Frasch presented her credentials to President James Michel at State House, in the Seychelles capital, Victoria on Tuesday.

Extending cooperation in the field of maritime security in the Indian Ocean region, particularly the fight against piracy and the stabilization of Somalia was discussed at length in their meeting that followed.

"I think security has come back, without security there’s nothing. I understand that Seychelles is an important partner in the state building process of Somalia where Germany is extremely engaged. The insecurity is one of the causes of migration in Somalia,” said Frasch when speaking to the press.

Frasch' discussions with the Seychellois head of state also focussed new areas of cooperation that can be developed. Aviation, the blue economy and fisheries have been earmarked, while trade and tourism are already existing sectors, which the two sides are keen on strengthening.

“Seychelles is going to increase the capacity of the port here in Victoria and I think German companies could help in doing this project, which is going to be co-financed by the European Investment bank. So, I think that there are so many areas where we’re going to work together again,” Frasch added.

With regards to tourism, the newly accredited ambassador confirmed that German leisure airline, Condor, will be chartering a second direct flight between the Seychelles main island, Mahé and Frankfurt, Germany as of November 2016.

Germany is among western European countries that send the highest number of tourists to Seychelles each year. Since January to date a total of 5,616 German visitors have disembarked in the island nation, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The majority of tourists from Germany are flown to the 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean by, Condor, which has been flying to Seychelles once a week the last several years.

Seychelles and Germany established diplomatic ties in 1977.

Ambassador Jutta Frasch is based in Nairobi, Kenya.