Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

and My Dear Students,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to meet all of you, a significant cross section of the Indian community residing in Seychelles, a country with immense natural beauty.

Let me begin by thanking the Seychelles Government and the business community in organising this meeting during my visit to your beautiful country.

I bring to you warm greetings, good wishes and best regards from the people of India, from the Members of the Indian Parliament, and from the Government of India.

Dear Friends,

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

His Excellency Mr Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa;

Dr. Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry of South Africa;

Shri Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communication and IT of India;

I am honoured and deeply moved by this visit to Phoenix Settlement established by Mahatma Gandhi more than a century ago. I consider myself to be fortunate to be here. It was my long cherished desire to come to this revered site to pay my humble homage to Gandhiji.

I came to this beautiful country at the invitation of His Excellency Jacob Zuma, the President of the Republic of South Africa.

Ladies and Gentlemen,