The new High Commissioner of New Zealand to Seychelles, Mr. Shane Jones presented his credentials to President James Michel at State House this morning.

The President congratulated and wished the High Commissioner every success during his new tenure. Apart from discussions on the potential cooperation in the field of renewable energy, President Michel also expressed his wish that the two countries have more cooperation in the field of fisheries so to be able to better establish a framework for the development of Seychelles’ maritime space.

Following the accreditation ceremony High Commissioner Jones told the national media that he spoke to President Michel about the importance of Seychelles’ participation at the Small Island Developing States Conference (SIDS) in Samoa last year, following an official visit to New Zealand. He said his discussion with the President centred on cooperation between New Zealand and Seychelles in the development of the Blue Economy. He further stated that there are possibility for further collaboration between the University of Seychelles and universities in New Zealand.

“He reflected that New Zealand could very well have something to offer in the field of the Blue Economy. New Zealand is contributing millions of dollars to the sustainability of the tuna resource in the Pacific ocean and he reminded me that New Zealand is currently a member of the United Nations Security Council and look forward for us to be good friends to Small Islands Developing States but more importantly switching to practical ways that I might  be able to assist in the area of the Blue Economy, because after all Seychelles and its beautiful landscape is also an ocean nation,” said Mr. Jones.

Also present during the meeting were the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Transport, Mr. Joël Morgan, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Loustau Lalanne and Deputy Head of Mission, New Zealand, Ms. Bethany Madden.

High Commissioner Jones is based in Auckland, New Zealand.