PM Modi to leave for Mauritius

New Delhi, Mar 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day State Visit to Mauritius to participate in the country’s 57th National Day celebrations. Before his departure tomorrow, he emphasised the enduring bond between the two nations and the significance of the visit. In a message on X (former Twitter), PM Modi said, “Starting tomorrow, I will be on a two-day visit to Mauritius, where I will take part in their 57th National Day celebrations.

I look forward to meeting my friend and Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam. I am also eager to interacting with the Indian community there.”

“Mauritius is a close maritime neighbour, a key partner in the Indian Ocean, and a gateway to the African Continent. We are connected by history, geography and culture. Deep mutual trust, a shared belief in the values of democracy, and celebration of our diversity are our strengths,” said Prime Minister Modi. “The close and historical people-to-people connect is a source of shared pride. We have made significant strides in the past ten years with people-centric initiatives.” Reflecting on the evolving partnership, Prime Minister Modi highlighted his commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors. “I look forward to the opportunity to engage with the Mauritius leadership to elevate our partnership in all its facets and strengthen our enduring friendship for the progress and prosperity of our peoples, as well as for security and development in the Indian Ocean Region, as part of our Vision SAGAR.”

This will be Prime Minister Modi’s second State Visit to Mauritius as the Chief Guest at its National Day celebrations, his first being in 2015. An Indian Naval Ship will dock at Port Louis, and a marching contingent from the Indian Navy will participate in the celebrations, accompanied by a navy helicopter, the Akash Ganga Skydiving Team from the Indian Air Force, and a team of NCC cadets. Mauritius has played a prominent role in India’s diplomatic engagements. Several Mou’s are likely to be signed in areas of trade, capacity building and maritime security.

President Droupadi Murmu was the Chief Guest at Mauritius’s National Day celebrations in 2024. The country has also been a consistent participant in Prime Minister Modi’s swearing-in ceremonies in 2014, 2019, and 2024. Additionally, Mauritius was a ‘Special Invitee’ at the 2023 G20 Summit and co-launched the Global Biofuels Alliance alongside India and other countries. High-level engagements remain a defining feature of the India-Mauritius bilateral relationship. Mauritius also represented at the Voice of Global South 3.0. External Affairs Minister visited Mauritius in July 2024, followed by the Indian Foreign Secretary in December 2024. India and Mauritius share robust cooperation in maritime security, development partnerships, capacity-building, multilateral forums, and cultural exchanges.

The deep-rooted ties are evident in the numerous India-assisted development projects across Mauritius. In 2016, India provided a $353 million grant to Mauritius as a Special Economic Package to support five key projects: the Metro Express Project, Supreme Court Building, New ENT Hospital, Social Housing Project, and Digital Tablets for school children. In 2017, India extended a $500 million Line of Credit to finance 10 projects, including Metro Project Phases I and II, the Social Housing Project, a solar power plant, and the Mauritius Police Academy. Furthermore, under a 2022 MoU on Community Development Projects, 96 small-scale, people-oriented projects were planned, of which 51 have already been inaugurated.