The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, met privately with his Mauritian counterpart, the Minister for Tourism and Leisure, John Michael Yeung Sik Yuen.

Minister St.Ange extended an invitation to Minister Yeung Sik Yuen to come to Seychelles in April for a three-island meeting alongside La Reunion to show the solidarity and to further develop the existing partnership and cooperation that exists between Seychelles, La Reunion, and Mauritius.

Minister St.Ange said that this meeting, which will also see the presence of La Reunion island, will be symbolic, as it will give a clear message that Seychelles, La Reunion, and Mauritius are committed to working together in close partnership to promote the Vanilla Islands concept.

The Mauritian Minister, Yeung Sik Yuen, has accepted the invitation of Minister St.Ange to attend the meeting in the Seychelles and said that Mauritius is committed to join with La Reunion island in co- hosting the 2013 edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria, which will be held February 8-10, 2013.

Minister Yeung Sik Yuen also spoke about the Mauritius position in regard to the Vanilla Islands concept, which he said he “personally supports this initiative, as it goes a long way in the promotion of the Indian Ocean islands.”

The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, seized the opportunity of this meeting to promote the marketing concept of an “equatorial belt,” which brings together La Reunion island, Seychelles, Mauritius, and the regional countries of Africa. Minister St.Ange said that this will not only help promote twin-center possibilities, but that it would be a unifying framework to promote the tropical tourist destinations of Africa and the Indian Ocean islands that pride themselves with a year-round tropical climate.

Minister St.Ange’s meeting with the Mauritian Minister for Tourism and Leisure falls in the wake of the Seychelles President’s official visit to Mauritius, whereby emphasis was placed on strengthening and consolidating the bilateral ties between the two island nations.

The Seychelles Minister told the press, following the meeting with his Mauritian counterpart, that the welcome was warm and cordial. “This is not the first time we have met, and following this official meeting in Mauritius, our relationship is set to be consolidated for the benefit of both our islands and of our tourism industry. We are committed to work together to ensure our plans work for the benefit of Mauritius and the Seychelles,” said Minister Alain St.Ange.