PM Modi releases commemorative coin to mark 75th anniversary of Food and Agriculture Organisation

The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. the Honourable Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP and the Prime Minister of India His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi had comprehensive and productive discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations between Mauritius and India during the latter’s State Visit to Mauritius from 11 to 12 March 2025.

During the bilateral meeting held on 11 March 2025, the two leaders reaffirmed that Mauritius and India enjoy a special and unique relationship that is unparalleled, given the shared bonds of history, language, culture, heritage, kinship, and values. They further acknowledged that Mauritius-India ties, anchored in people-to-people and cultural exchanges, have grown from strength to strength in the last several decades into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that cuts across various domains and benefits the two countries, their people and the wider Indian Ocean Region.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius underscored India’s role as a time-tested and trusted partner of Mauritius in its socio-economic development since the time of its independence. Noting that India has steadfastly supported Mauritius at all times, Prime Minister of Mauritius reaffirmed his firm commitment to further build upon the bilateral partnership that exists between the two countries to cater to future developments.

The Prime Minister of India, recollecting his earlier visit to Mauritius in March 2015, during which India’s Vision SAGAR, i.e., Security and Growth For All in the Region, was unveiled, emphasized that Mauritius remains a crucial partner for realising Vision SAGAR and lauded the extensive support extended by the Government of Mauritius in advancing bilateral relations. He further noted that Mauritius stands at the junction of India’s Vision SAGAR, its Neighbourhood First approach and its commitment to the Global South, and underlined the important role played by Mauritius in advancing these policies for the common benefit of both countries.

Underlining the strength and uniqueness of bilateral ties, both leaders agreed that it is time to provide further guidance and orientation to the relationship and transform it into an enhanced Strategic Partnership.

Political Exchanges

Both leaders acknowledged that their bilateral relations enjoy a high degree of trust and mutual understanding at various levels, complemented by regular high level exchanges and visits between the two countries. Noting that the participation of Mauritius as a Guest country under India’s G20 Presidency had deepened engagement across all sectors, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continue these engagements.

Welcoming the ongoing discussions between the Parliaments of the two countries, including in the field of capacity building, both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on sharing best practices on parliamentary proceedings. Further, they agreed to intensify interactions between Parliamentarians of the two countries.

Development Partnership

The two leaders noted that India has been the leading development partner for Mauritius since its independence and has contributed significantly towards its infrastructure and developmental needs. Highlighting India’s support in successfully implementing several high profile infrastructure projects, such as India-Mauritius Metro Express Project, New Supreme Court Building, New ENT Hospital, 956 Social Housing Units, and Educational Tablets, among others, the Prime Minister of Mauritius expressed gratitude for India-aided projects that form part of the Mauritian landscape across various sectors and have benefited all sections of Mauritius over the years.

Both leaders acknowledged the benefits of the new runway and jetty developed with Indian assistance at Agalega and its critical role towards provisioning of emergency humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of the recent Cyclone Chido for the Mauritian people in Agalega. The Prime Minister of Mauritius thanked the Government of India for its timely and swift assistance, including the deployment of transport aircraft and ships, to aid the efforts of the Government of Mauritius towards rehabilitation, thereby reaffirming India’s role as a ‘First Responder’ for Mauritius in times of need. The Prime Minister of Mauritius welcomed the assistance of the Prime Minister of India in the development of Agalega for the welfare and benefit of its inhabitants.

The leaders further underlined the significance of ongoing infrastructure projects such as Renal Transplant Unit, Forensic Science Laboratory, National Archives and Library and Civil Service College, as well as the High Impact Community Development Projects spread across Mauritius and reiterated their full support towards their timely completion.

Given that India-assisted people-centric developmental assistance brings tangible benefits to the friendly people of Mauritius and contributes towards the socio-economic development of Mauritius, both leaders agreed to:

i. Work towards timely delivery of 100-electric buses and the associated charging infrastructure;

ii. Implement Phase II of High Impact Community Development Projects;

iii. Initiate implementation of the replacement of 100 km water pipeline in Mauritius under the first INR denominated Line of Credit agreement concluded between the two sides;

iv. Finalise discussions on the new Parliament building on a site to be identified by Government of Mauritius, and conclude framework understanding to implement this project with India’s grant assistance; and

v. Finalise discussion on the redevelopment of the Ganga Talao Spiritual Sunctuary and conclude framework understanding to implement this project with India’s grant assistance;

vi. Explore new areas of development cooperation, as per the needs and priorities of the Government of Mauritius.

Human Resource Development and Capacity Building

12. Noting that India has always contributed towards capacity building and training needs of Mauritius and its constructive role towards human resource development needs of Mauritius, both leaders committed to:

i. Continue ongoing capacity building initiatives, both under Government of India’s ITEC framework and customized training programmes; Implement the customized training programme for 500 civil servants of Mauritius through the National Centre for Good Governance in India over a period of five years;

ii. Create institutional linkages between the Civil Service College, Forensic Science Laboratory, and National Archives and Library with relevant premier institutes in India for continued cooperation and sharing of best practices;

iii. Support continued deputation of Consultants and/or technical experts to assist the Government of Mauritius for its functional requirements;

iv. Enhance and strengthen the existing training collaboration for Mauritian diplomats by institutionalizing a capacity building programme at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU); and

v. Explore further training programmes for Mauritian officials in civil, police, parliamentary, customs, legal, health, and other domains, as per needs and requirements of Mauritius.

Space and Climate Change

The two leaders agreed that the ongoing space cooperation has immensely benefited both the countries and reflected the importance attached by India to its special ties with Mauritius. The Prime Minister of Mauritius conveyed his appreciation to the Government of India for its support towards the joint development of a satellite for Mauritius and acknowledged that this cooperation is a testament to India’s unwavering support to Mauritius on its developmental journey. In order to further deepen cooperation in the space domain, they agreed to:

i. Work closely towards successful development and launch of the India-Mauritius satellite, including requisite training for Mauritian scientists and experts at the Indian Space Research Organisation;

ii. Support implementation of weather and climate forecasting system at different temporal scales, Wave Rider Buoys and Multi-hazard Emergency System in Mauritius to help it build a resilient disaster preparedness and response system;

iii. Renew the ongoing cooperation between ISRO and Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) on ISRO Telemetry and Tracking Centre in Mauritius; and

iv. Explore new avenues of cooperation in the space and climate change domain to cater to the needs of Mauritius, and associated capacity building support; and

v. Pursue the proposal of the Government of India for a development partnership project aimed at utilising an Earth Observation Application and an interactive computing framework to enable Mauritius to monitor extreme weather events and study climate impact effectively, which will be carried out by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), under the umbrella of the QUAD.

Health and Education cooperation

Underscoring India’s support towards development of health and educational infrastructure including assistance for adoption and deployment of its health related DPIs and platforms and its positive contribution towards development of Mauritius, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to provide quality, affordable, and accessible health care benefits to the people of Mauritius. They appreciated the launch of the first Jan Aushadhi Kendras by India abroad in Mauritius and agreed to expand the initiative to various parts of Mauritius.

Noting the challenges faced by Mauritius on account of increase in drug-addiction and related social issues, the leaders agreed to work together in sharing expertise on drug de-addiction and rehabilitation, and to work closely with the National Drug Policy, Monitoring and Coordination Agency with expertise and support from the Narcotics Control Bureau of India.

Advancing the ongoing cooperation in health domain, the two leaders further agreed to work closely towards timely implementation of Digital Health Office system in Mauritius, along with deputation of a specialist from India, to aid the Government of Mauritius’s endeavour to digitise health care services in Mauritius.

The leaders also underlined the importance of cooperation in AYUSH. The Prime Minister of Mauritiusexpressed his appreciation for the support extended by India for the setting-up of an Ayush Centre of Excellence in Mauritius, and looked forward to the continued assistance of India to realise this ambitious Project. The Prime Minister of Mauritius thanked the Prime Minister of India for all the facilities extended by India to Mauritian patients undergoing treatment in India.

The leaders also welcomed ongoing discussions between National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Ministry of Higher Education of Mauritius on sharing of expertise in development of curriculum for school education and agreed that such cooperation initiatives will augur well for deepening of bilateral ties and strengthen institutional linkages in the field of school education. They also agreed to strengthen India Mauritius S&T cooperation which includes preparation of a roadmap for the implementation of the National Science and Technology Strategy and collaboration on establishment of Directorate of Science and Technology in Mauritius.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

Acknowledging that the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA), India’s first ever trade agreement with a country in African region, marked a major milestone in the economic and trade relations of both countries, the leaders underscored the need for exploiting the full potential of bilateral trade for the shared objective of economic growth and prosperity of Mauritius and India. Highlighting Mauritius’s locational advantage and cultural linkages, inter-alia, with Africa its being part of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), The Prime Minister of Mauritius underlined the need for Indian companies and businesses to see Mauritius as a gateway to India’s engagements with Africa and benefit from trade and business opportunities offered by Africa.

Reiterating their firm commitment to diversify the trade and commercial linkages between the two countries, the leaders agreed to:

i. Hold the second session of High Power Joint Trade Committee under CECPA tofurther strengthen trade, economic cooperation and partnership between the two countries;

ii. Facilitate trade settlements in local currencies, viz.Indian Rupee and Mauritian Rupee, which will work towards derisking bilateral trade,pursuant to signing of an MoU on Local currency Settlement by the partner Central Banks;

iii. Ratify the Protocol on Amendment of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement at the earliest to harmonise with International Standards on treaty abuse, after ongoing discussions are concluded; and

iv. Promote investments in sunrise sectors such as ocean economy, pharmaceuticals, IT and Fintech, among others, to support Mauritius in diversification of its economy for long term and sustainable economic growth.

Digital cooperation

Underscoring India’s achievements in rolling out of several people-centric digitization initiatives and their positive impact on governance and service delivery,the Prime Minister of Mauritius requested India’s support to the Government of Mauritius on its digitisation drive across sectors, to which the Prime Minister of India expressed full support. In line with this objective, the leaders agreed to:

i. Support implementation of e-judiciary system, and digitisation of archives and records at Mahatma Gandhi Institute;

ii. Strengthen cooperation in the field of ICT including cyber security, Digital Public Infrastructure, and capacity building for the same;and

iii. Explore implementation of successful digital tools developed by India, such as PM Gati Shakti digital platform, as per Mauritius’s requirements.

Defence and Maritime Security cooperation

The two leaders noted that defence and maritime security cooperation remains an important pillar of bilateral relations and close cooperation in this domain has achieved a strategic dimension and benefited both countries immensely. They further agreed that Mauritius and India, having a shared commitment to ensure a free, open, safe and secure Indian Ocean Region, are natural partners in the region and reiterated their resolve to work closely in countering maritime challenges and safeguarding the larger strategic interests in the region.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius conveyed his appreciation to India for its unwavering support to Mauritius in protecting its vast Exclusive Economic Zone through provisioning of defence and maritime assets, regular deployment of ships and aircraft, conducting joint maritime surveillance, hydrographic surveys and patrolling, bilateral exercises and information sharing and training support, thereby emerging as a significant security provider for Mauritius.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius further thanked India for its continued assistance towards refit of Coast Guard Ships Victory, Valiant and Barracuda, on grant basis. The Prime Minister of India noted that Mauritius is a special maritime partner for India and is an important partner under India’s Vision SAGAR. Given our shared objectives in the region, The Prime Minister of India reiterated India’s continued support and assistance to Mauritius in augmenting its defence and security needs.

Reiterating their collective desire to counter growing threats and challenges in the region, the leaders resolved to:

i. Continue cooperation on provisioning of defence and maritime assets and equipment, as per needs and priorities of Mauritius;

ii. Enhance maritime cooperation through increased deployment of ships and aircraft for joint maritime surveillance and hydrography surveys;

iii. Deepen cooperation towards securing EEZ of Mauritius, including through enhanced utilisation of newly built runway and jetty at Agalega;

iv. Assist setting up of National Maritime Information Sharing Centre to enhance maritime domain awareness;

v. Cooperate by providing expertise in the fields of Marine Operations and Marine Engineering; Port Safety Environment, Port Emergency and Port security to Mauritius Port Authority; and

vi. Conduct customized training programme and capacity building initiatives to meet growing needs of Mauritius Police Force.

Regional and Multilateral Cooperation

The two leaders welcomed the ongoing discussions between Mauritius and the United Kingdom on Chagos islands. The Prime Minister of India reiterated India’s firm support to Mauritius on the Chagos issue. The Prime Minister of Mauritius thanked the Prime Minister of India for his personal support and engagement with global leaders on this issue.

The leaders agreed to work closely in advancing cooperation under regional and multilateral frameworks, especially through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Colombo Security Conclave, the Global Biofuels Alliance, International Solar Alliance, and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. They welcomed the recent signing of the Founding Documents of the Colombo Security Conclave and assumption of Chair of the IORA by India for the period 2025-26, and underlined the importance of these regional mechanisms for furthering cooperation on maritime security and addressing common challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

Cultural and People-to-People ties

Noting that cultural heritage, historical bonds and people-to-people ties underpin Mauritius-India special ties, the leaders agreed to further deepen the close bonds of friendship between the two countries. In this regard, they agreed to:

i. Support the Mahatma Gandhi Institute in preserving the documented records of indentured workers from India, including through specialised training and institutional support through the National Archives of India;

ii. Strengthen diaspora engagement through Know India Programme, Connecting Roots, Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, and scholarships and cooperate on research related to Girmitya’s legacy and documentation of their contribution in strengthening people to people ties;

iii. Promote tourism and cultural exchanges through visits to Char Dham and Ramayana trail as well as ancient places of religious worship in India; and

iv. Further cooperate to expedite implementation of the MOU on labor recruitment to facilitate labor mobility between Mauritius and India.

The leaders expressed satisfaction over their comprehensive discussions on the entire gamut of bilateral relations and agreed that their special and close bilateral partnership has acquired significant strategic depth. They further noted that the Mauritius-India bilateral partnership in the domains of development partnership, defence and maritime security and people-to-people ties is a shining example of cooperation and sets a standard for bilateral partnership in the region. Both leaders agreed to continue providing orientation and guidance towards elevating the relationship into anenhanced Strategic Partnership, which is mutually beneficial, catering to the developmental needs of Mauritius, and contributing to shared objectives in the region.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius thanked the Prime Minister of India for his presence, as the Guest of Honour, at the National Day celebrations marking the 57th Anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius and the 33rd Anniversary of the Republic of Mauritius.

The Prime Minister of India invited the Prime Minister of Mauritius to pay an official visit to India at his earliest convenience.