15 January 2020 Manama, Bahrain: The Republic of Seychelles and the Kingdom of Bahrain have further cemented relations between the two island nations through the signing of a series of Agreements this afternoon in the wake of President Danny Faure’s first State Visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain, being held from 15 to 16 January. 
 
The agreements, signed by the Minister for Finance Trade and Economic Planning, Minister Loustau Lalanne on behalf of the Government of Seychelles and on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, includes a General Cooperation Agreement, an Agreement for Cooperation in the field of Tourism, and an agreement on the exemption of visa requirements for holders of Diplomatic, Special and Official Passports.  
 
The Visa Waiver agreement represents the first phase of expanding cooperation for this category of passport holders which will promote further development of bilateral relations between the two countries. Further discussions on the second phase to extend the visa waiver for general passports is already ongoing as part of future efforts to further consolidate and enhance cooperation between Bahrain and Seychelles. 
 
The signing ceremony also included the signing of an Agreement between the Central Bank of Bahrain and the Central Bank of Seychelles, an area which has already yielded results through the confirmed sponsorship of two scholarships to the Central Bank of Seychelles by the Bahrain Islamic Banking and Finance (BIBF) Training Institute.
 
Commitments in other key areas of cooperation include a pledge by the Kingdom of Bahrain to further support Seychelles in its maritime security efforts through the donation of two boats for Coast Guards. 

The signing was witnessed by President Danny Faure along with the His Highness Sheik Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Advisor and Son of His Royal Highness, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, members of the Seychelles delegation and senior Bahraini officials.  

President Faure will continue the second day of his state visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain tomorrow.