The Seychelles Heritage Foundation (SHF) signed the memorandum of understanding with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) at the latter’s head office in New Delhi.

Signing for Seychelles was SHF chairman Patrick Nanty and for India Intach chairman Maj Gen L K Gupta.

Also present were Seychelles’ high commissioner to India Dick Esparon and first secretary Jean-Claude Adrienne, as well as members and staff of Intach.

The agreement will allow the two organisations to benefit from each other’s experience. In particular, it opens up opportunities for training in heritage management for SHF staff, either in Seychelles or India, with Intach’s help.

Intach is a major player in preserving and promoting cultural heritage throughout India and operates many programmes, especially in the areas of heritage tourism, preserving architectural heritage and schools heritage education.

Its members include prominent Indian citizens and professionals who share a common interest in preserving and promoting their country’s heritage.

Intach and the SHF have similar aims and programmes, such as organising children’s heritage clubs and renovating heritage properties and attractions as a means of preserving cultural identity and contributing to cultural tourism.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, both Mr Nanty and Maj Gen Gupta stressed the opportunities in capacity building that the agreement creates. They spoke of the historical links between Seychelles and India, which provide a solid background to the agreement.