This morning at State House, President Wavel Ramkalawan received the outgoing Swiss Ambassador to the Republic of Seychelles, His Excellency Mr. Rolf Stalder, in a farewell call marking the conclusion of his diplomatic mission.

President Ramkalawan expressed his deep gratitude to Ambassador Stalder for his steadfast efforts in strengthening the longstanding relationship between Seychelles and Switzerland. He acknowledged the ambassador’s significant contributions to fostering cooperation between the two nations.

Ambassador Stalder, in turn, thanked President Ramkalawan and the people of Seychelles for the warm hospitality shown during his tenure. He voiced optimism for the continued development of Swiss-Seychellois ties, emphasizing the strong foundation laid for future collaborations.

During their discussions, both leaders reviewed the current state of bilateral cooperation and explored potential new areas for partnership.

In attendance were key officials, including Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Vivianne Fock Tave, Principal Counsellor for Bilateral Affairs Ms. Johnette Stephen, First Secretary&Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Urs Fluckiger, Honorary Consul of Switzerland Mrs. Ilaria Isola and Desk Officer for Bilateral Affairs Mr. Davis Mathiot.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

H.E. Saif Abdulla Alshamisi, Assistant Undersecretary for Protocol Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a copy of the credentials of H.E. Kenneth Milimo Nganga, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya to the UAE.

His Excellency wished the new Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya success in the performance of his duties and emphasized the UAE’s keenness to enhance the relations between the UAE and Kenya in all fields. 

The newly appointed Ambassador praised the leading and prestigious position that the UAE enjoys regionally and internationally under the visionary policy of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs&International Cooperation.

The Government of India has extended humanitarian assistance to the Government and people of the Republic of Malawi, Government and people of the Republic of Zambia and Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe to address the food deficit which has occurred due to severe drought caused by El Nino phenomenon.

Shipments of food grains were despatched from the Nhava Sheva port for Malawi (1000 MT Rice); Zambia (first tranche of 1300 MT Maize of the scheduled 2500 MT Maize) and Zimbabwe (1000 MT Rice) to help in their food security and management efforts.

​​This assistance embodies India’s principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam’, the spirit of South-South Cooperation and our unwavering commitment towards Africa as outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India stands ready to provide assistance to all friendly countries in their hour of need and further cement our longstanding and close ties.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), a leading innovative technology brand, is proud to extend its partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support UNHCR’s global primary education programme.

The partnership, first established in 2020, is dedicated to providing high-quality, protective education for African refugee children and young people. Over the past four years, the partnership has reached 17,370 refugee children and 40 refugee DAFI scholars, as well as provided support to teachers and school infrastructure.

Among the 11,500 new refugee students expected to enroll in 2024, TECNO’s support through the primary education programme will benefit over 7,000 children in Kenya, helping them unlock their full potential to thrive in their adulthood.

In collaboration with partners like TECNO, UNHCR is committed to enrolling over 55,000 out-of-school children in primary schools in Dadaab and Kakuma camps over the next four years. 

With 774,370 refugees and asylum-seekers as of May 2024, Kenya is the fifth largest refugee-hosting country in Africa. Kenya’s refugee camps Dadaab and Kakuma, as well as Kalobeyei Settlement Center, house over 217,000 school-aged refugee children. Despite a high gross enrolment rate, school-aged children’s net enrolment is just 53%.

TECNO’s financial support in 2024 is already helping to bolster UNHCR’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for refugee children in Kenya. This is being achieved through the provision of scholastic materials for students, hygiene kits for girls, infrastructure construction, as well as resources for teachers and school activities.

Adriani Wahjanto, UNHCR Deputy Representative in China, hailed support from TECNO: “UNHCR welcomes the renewal of our long-term partnership with TECNO, whose sustained support is crucial in bridging gaps in access to quality education and creating opportunities for refugee children. We hope this extended partnership will inspire more private sector actors to contribute not only funding but also expertise, as well as use their networks and influence, to help build a brighter future for people forced to flee. 

Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO, said:“TECNO is dedicated to giving back to local communities in Africa through practical initiatives. With our renewed partnership with UNHCR, we aim to continue supporting the improvement of learning conditions for African refugee children . We believe that education is the key to changing the destiny of refugee children and serves as the foundation for rebuilding their lives. Investing in primary education now will support a sustainable future and brighter tomorrow.”

Inclusive and equitable quality education is a cornerstone of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically Goal 4, and remains a long-term objective of UNHCR. The organization’s primary education programming is customized to each country operation around four main objectives and employs location-specific strategies to effectively address the needs of refugee children. The planning and implementation of these initiatives are continuously enhanced drawing on insights from past interventions, to create safe, and stimulating learning environments that reduces the risk of seeing children leave school.

TECNO and UNHCR’s partnership exemplifies a commitment to not only education but also to the long-term well-being and the generous efforts of Kenya to include forcibly displaced in education opportunities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.

About UNHCR:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes. The organization delivers life-saving assistance including shelter, food and water, helps safeguard fundamental human rights, and develops solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future.

About TECNO:
TECNO is an innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 countries and regions across five continents. Since its launch, TECNO has been revolutionizing the digital experience in emerging global markets, relentlessly pushing for the perfect integration of contemporary, aesthetic design with the latest technologies. Today, TECNO has developed into a recognized leader in its target markets, delivering state-of-the-art innovation through a wide range of smartphones, smart wearables, laptops and tablets, HiOS operating systems, and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing,” TECNO is committed to unlocking the best and newest technologies for forward-looking individuals. By creating stylish, intelligent products, TECNO inspires consumers worldwide to never stop pursuing their best selves and their best futures. For more information, please visit TECNO’s official site: www.TECNO-Mobile.com.