The Mauritian Minister for Fisheries, Mr. Nicolas Von-Mally, who is a Rodrigues island-born Mauritian, met with Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, when the Seychelles Minister was on a working visit in Mauritius last week.

Minister St.Ange of the Seychelles expressed his desire to invite a Rodrigues island delegation to the Seychelles to participate in the 3rd edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria 2013.

Minister Nicolas Von-Mally said from his Port Louis Office in Mauritius that he “would encourage this cultural exchange program between Rodrigues island and the Seychelles. The two islands have had direct bilateral ties, and Rodrigues island and the island of La Digue of the Seychelles have even [a] twinning program among themselves.”

Minister Von Mally was speaking in the presence of the Cecile Francois, the Minister’s Advisor for Fisheries and Rodrigues.

The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture said that “following the official visit by the Seychelles President, Mr. James Michel, and knowing that the Mauritian Prime Minister, Mr. Navin Ramgoolam, may well be visiting Seychelles in the near future, is a clear indication of a strengthening relationship between our two island nations. It was, therefore, important for members of the government from both our islands to explore new possibilities of cooperation between Seychelles and Mauritius.”

Minister St.Ange also went on to say that the carnival that is staged annually in the Seychelles can be a platform for Rodrigues island to show its cultural identity and to showcase its people, which are known to be very similar to that of the Seychelles.” The Mauritian Minister provided to the Seychelles delegation the contact details of the Tourism Authority of Rodrigues island, who are mandated to work on the visibility of the island as a tourism destination in its own right.

The Seychelles Minister Alain St. Ange has also spoken about the annual La Digue Island Festival hosted by the Seychelles Tourism Board on August 15 in the Seychelles and said that Rodrigues island could also consider getting involved with their sister island in the Seychelles in this festival. The La Digue Island Festival is a religious feast of the Holy Mary.

Minister Von-Mally of Mauritius, who has personally led a delegation to the island of La Digue before, has welcomed this invitation and said that it will be put for consideration. Rodrigue island is part of Mauritius.

Attending the meeting between Minister Von-Mally and St.Ange were Elsia Grandcourt, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board; Marsha Parcou, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Manager based in Johannesburg in South Africa; Kenneth Racombo of the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Bernadette Honore, the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Press Attache.