Africa-Press – Seychelles. From August 13th to 17th, Concarneau, in the Finistère department and Brittany region (France), hosted an official delegation from the Seychelles, led by the Ambassador to France, Georges Tirant, accompanied by his Minister-Counsellor, Jacques Belle. Invited by Mayor Marc Bigot, this visit took place as part of the Festival des Filets Bleus, a must-see event for Breton culture. The event marked a turning point in relations between the Cornish city and Victoria, the capital of the Seychelles. The objective: to revive the twinning agreement signed on October 30th, 1997, which had been dormant for several years. Both sides now clearly intend to revive this partnership.
During the meetings, several avenues for cooperation were discussed: cultural and educational exchanges, economic and sports partnerships, environmental projects, and joint development of maritime heritage. Among the most notable initiatives was the planned opening of a Seychelles consulate in Concarneau. This branch would strengthen the Seychelles presence in Brittany and facilitate administrative, cultural, and tourist exchanges between the two territories.
This official visit, part of the excitement of the Blue Nets Festival, allowed Seychellois representatives to discover local traditions and meet with community members, business representatives, and residents. “We share with Victoria a strong maritime culture and a common desire to forge lasting human ties,” emphasized Mayor Marc Bigot, welcoming this revival.
For his part, Ambassador Georges Tirant praised the warm welcome extended by the city and reaffirmed Seychelles’ desire to give new impetus to the partnership with Concarneau.
He took the opportunity to recall the shared history that unites the two territories. “Our grandparents were Bretons,” he told the audience gathered for the ceremony honoring the queen of the Blue Nets. Recalling the three-hundred-year-old ties, he emphasized that in the 19th century, ships from Brittany landed on the Seychelles coast, leaving a lasting mark: “A significant portion of our population has Breton origins,” he recalled, to applause.
An agreement expected by the end of the year
The twinning agreement, which still needs to be validated by the Concarneau municipal council, has not yet been formally ratified. But Marc Bigot was reassuring: “It will be signed before the end of 2025, and concrete projects will be developed from there.”
The delegation left on an optimistic note: a schedule of concrete actions must now be defined, with regular monitoring between the two towns. More than just a twinning agreement, this revival is intended to be the foundation of modern cooperation, open to the world, and founded on the values of sharing and solidarity.
Text and photos by Joey Nicles Modeste
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