The Mauritian Minister of Arts and Culture, Mookhesswur Choone, has pledged his support to open new areas of cultural cooperation with the Seychelles.

Minister Choone made this pledge during his meeting with the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, at his office in the Mauritian Capital of Port Louis.

The Mauritian Minister for Arts and Culture said that he is proud to have Minister St.Ange as his new counterpart, as he outlined to the gathered press that the identity of a nation is derived from its culture. Minister St.Ange,on his part, said that the Seychelles brand of tourism states that the Seychelles islands’ tourism industry cannot be consolidated without the islands’ culture and that there can be no Seychelles islands culture without the Seychellois people.

The two gathered ministers said that both islands “should use their cultural assets to further promote their diversities to the world and in the Indian Ocean region.”
The Seychelles Minister went on to reiterate President James Michel’s call for Seychelles and Mauritius to consolidate their cultural ties through regional integration and cultural exchanges.

President James Michel made this call during his State visit in Mauritius as a guest of honor at the celebrations marking the 44th anniversary of the independence of this island.

The Seychelles Minister said that Seychelles and Mauritius have common cultural assets which should be put to forward.

“Seychelles hosts annually the Creole Festival, which showcases a melting pot of Creole-speaking cultures, whereas Mauritius has its own Creole Festival. We should decide how to now work together on these two festivals. It is important that both islands come together as a solid block to promote these Creole events and in doing so bring more visibility to the region.”

The Mauritian Minister of Arts and Culture has complimented the Seychelles Minister’s initiatives for cultural exchanges between the two islands and said that “Maurituis and Seychelles are two islands, two people with one common destiny,” and Minister St.Ange said that he was working to unlock the full cultural potential of the Seychelles.

The Mauritian Minister has agreed to work with his colleague, the Mauritius Minister responsible for Tourism, to see how the Mauritian culture and people can be showcased at the annual Carnaval International de Victoria that is held in Seychelles.