Security issues including drug control efforts were among the topics discussed Tuesday between the newly accredited Columbian ambassador to Seychelles and President Danny Faure.

Maria Euginia Correa, who is the first Columbian ambassador to the island nation, presented her credentials to the President at State House, Victoria.

“Columbia has the biggest experience in police, training, and drug control. Our experience lies not only on land but in the air and sea. It is for that reason that I offered the President to work together on these matters,” Correa told journalists.

Correa explained that “our police force is considered as the best in the world and we can provide Seychelles with the best technical advice to ensure order and peace.”

Apart from security, the Columbian ambassador and the Seychelles’ President talked about strengthening South-South cooperation.

Correa explained that “our police force is considered as the best in the world and we can provide Seychelles with the best technical advice to ensure order and peace. (Jude Morel) Photo License: CC-BY

“There is substantive evidence showing that South–South trade and investments have the potential to accelerate improvements in health, education, social welfare, in harnessing knowledge and experience, and in establishing critical partnerships which are instrumental for both countries,”  said Correa.

South-South is a trade and policy cooperation policy aimed at strengthening working to eradicate poverty and increase cooperation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Another area where Columbia and Seychelles – a group of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean - expect to share expertise is in the health care sector, especially in the treatment of breast cancer.

“We have a good programme to treat breast cancer. This illness is a silent killer and we need to tackle it together,” said Correa. Seychelles’ President and the Columbian ambassador also discussed issues related to the environment.

Correa also said that she presented the President with the idea of signing a memorandum of understanding in the area of technical cooperation.

The Columbian ambassador will be based in the capital city of South Africa, Pretoria. She said that distance is not going to be a problem and that she will visit every now and then as per the President’s request.