(Seychelles News Agency) - Sweden’s town of Umeå was declared Europe’s culture capital on Friday, a title it will share together with Riga, the capital city of Latvia.

Seychelles tourism and culture minister Alain St Ange joined dignitaries from around the world at the launch ceremony, promising new cultural and marketing opportunities for the Indian Ocean islands, according to a statement from the minister's office.

“Culture has taken a more important role in the marketing of Seychelles. Sweden, Norway and Finland remain important tourism markets for the Seychelles and any visibility in these parts of the world will help the islands’ tourism industry,” said St Ange.

Seychelles and Sweden share strong links in education, in particular with the Midgardsskolan Institute of Learning in Umeå. Students from Umea have been travelling to Seychelles for the last 15 years, and staying with families on La Digue, the third most populous island of the archipelago, known for Anse Source D’Argent beach, ranked by CNN.com as the 4th best beach of the World's 100 best beaches.

The Seychelles exchange programme coordinator Alex Jacob told the Seychelles News Agency that a group comprising 80 doctors and physiotherapists is due in Seychelles from April 2014 when they are expected to gift the island with 60 laptops.

The European Union designates a town as the European capital of culture for 12 months, where many cultural events are held to celebrate its status.