Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mauritius to celebrate its 57th national day and strengthen bilateral ties through multiple agreements. The visit emphasizes cooperation in maritime security, financial crimes, and capacity building. Modi’s engagement reflects India’s enduring partnership with Mauritius amidst regional challenges posed by China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day state visit to Mauritius on Tuesday, honoring the island nation’s 57th national day celebrations as the chief guest. This visit is expected to result in the signing of multiple agreements aimed at strengthening economic and security cooperation between India and Mauritius. The Indian armed forces will participate in the celebrations, featuring a navy warship and the Akash Ganga skydiving team from the Indian Air Force.
Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam has expressed gratitude for PM Modi’s visit, highlighting it as a privilege for his country to host such a significant leader. He acknowledged Modi’s busy schedule and previous international engagements, affirming that this visit underscores the strong bilateral relationship.
The agenda includes the signing of various Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) focused on enhancing cooperation in maritime security and financial crime reduction. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri indicated that a technical agreement will be established concerning the sharing of white shipping information, which will assist in combating illegal activities and enhancing maritime awareness in Mauritius.
Other agreements will include initiatives for capacity building, bilateral trade enhancement, tackling cross-border financial crimes, and promoting small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, a framework will be developed for maritime zone management and ocean observation through an MoU between the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services and the Mauritius Prime Minister’s Office.
During his visit, PM Modi will inaugurate a civil service college and a health center funded by Indian grants. Moreover, an MoU will be signed between India’s Enforcement Directorate and the Financial Crime Commission of Mauritius to bolster cooperation against financial crimes, thereby enhancing intelligence sharing and technical assistance.
Mauritius maintains a unique relationship with India, as a significant portion of its population, approximately 70 percent, is of Indian descent. India has been a prominent trading partner since 2005, with significant bilateral trade growth recorded over the years. In the financial year 2022-2023, Indian exports to Mauritius were USD 462 million, while Mauritian exports to India totaled USD 91.50 million, resulting in a total trade volume of USD 554 million.
In recent years, cooperation in maritime security and defense has notably increased, illustrated by India’s investment in enhancing infrastructure on Agalega, a remote island of Mauritius. This collaboration aims to strengthen Mauritius’ ability to monitor its expansive exclusive economic zone, covering 2.3 million square kilometers.
Despite China’s growing influence in the region, Mauritius remains a steadfast ally of India in the Indian Ocean, committed to developing frameworks for cooperative oceanic research and management with New Delhi. Following the China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement, Mauritius affirmed its economic alliance with India, focusing on mutual maritime interests and security, a concept articulated during PM Modi’s inaugural visit in 2015 through the SAGAR doctrine for regional cooperation.
In summary, Prime Minister Modi’s two-day visit to Mauritius signifies a strong commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, particularly in economic and security domains. The signing of various MoUs aims to foster cooperation in maritime security and combat financial crimes. Strengthened ties reflect the deep-rooted connections due to the significant Indian diaspora in Mauritius and emphasize India’s enduring partnership amid regional geopolitical challenges.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
