Seychelles delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026

Principal Minister Wallace Cosgrow, representing the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, led the Seychellois delegation at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), officially opened by His Majesty King Charles III, Head of the Commonwealth.

Link for the Opening Ceremony of CHOGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln8jQFpHrvM&t=19s

The Executive Session provides a platform for leaders to deliberate on key issues and agree on collective priorities and actions. During his intervention at the Executive Session, Principal Minister Wallace Cosgrow, Minister for the Blue Economy, Fisheries and Agriculture, congratulated the newly appointed Commonwealth Secretary-General, Ms Shirley Botchwey, on the ongoing efforts to reform and modernise the Commonwealth Secretariat, with a view to making it more responsive to the needs and priorities of its membership.

On the issue of reparatory justice, Principal Minister Cosgrow aligned himself with views expressed by other delegations, including Mauritius, advocating for the Communiqué to recognise the experiences of other regions, particularly the Indian Ocean, which were also deeply affected by the historical injustices of slavery and human trafficking.

Principal Minister Wallace Cosgrow also delivered a speech in Side Event 3: Blue Finance and Innovation, held on the sidelines of CHOGM, where he highlighted Seychelles’ experience in leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to advance sustainable ocean management and the Blue Economy.

In his intervention, he emphasised that the Blue Economy is an integral part of Seychelles’ national development strategy, balancing economic growth, social wellbeing and environmental conservation. He outlined the country’s pioneering 2016 Debt-for-Nature Swap, valued at USD 21.6 million, and the 2018 Sovereign Blue Bond, which raised USD 15 million to support marine conservation, sustainable fisheries and climate adaptation.

He further highlighted the importance of partnerships, innovation and private sector participation, citing coral restoration, circular economy initiatives and the potential of marine biotechnology. He called on the Commonwealth to strengthen cooperation by connecting governments, investors, scientists and innovators to mobilise finance, share expertise and advance sustainable ocean development, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Republic of Seychelles.