Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Mauritius late Monday night for a two-day State visit, where he will participate as the Chief Guest in the National Day celebrations on March 12. The visit aims to strengthen the enduring ties between India and Mauritius.
“Strengthening India-Mauritius enduring ties! PM @narendramodi has embarked on a 2-day State visit to Port Louis, Mauritius. PM will participate as the Chief Guest at Mauritius’ National Day Celebrations & also meet Mauritian leadership & dignitaries,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
In his departure statement, PM Modi expressed his enthusiasm about engaging with the leadership of Mauritius and enhancing the bilateral partnership for regional security and development in the Indian Ocean Region. He described Mauritius as a “close maritime neighbour, key partner in the Indian Ocean and a gateway to the African continent.”
“At the invitation of my friend, Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, I am embarking on a two-day State Visit to Mauritius to participate in the celebrations of the 57th National Day of Mauritius. 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,” Modi said.
Highlighting the people-centric initiatives achieved over the past decade, he added, “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.”
Modi expressed confidence that this visit would strengthen the foundations of the India-Mauritius relationship and open a new chapter of cooperation and growth. “I look forward to the opportunity to engage 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,” he added.
During his visit, PM Modi will meet Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, and other senior political leaders. He will also interact with members of the Indian-origin community and inaugurate the Civil Service College and the Area Health Centre, both constructed with India’s grant assistance.
A contingent of Indian Defence Forces and a ship from the Indian Navy will participate in the National Day celebrations, showcasing India’s support and collaboration with Mauritius. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit.
Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius, Anurag Srivastava, described the relationship between the two nations as “truly special” and emphasized the anticipated agreements in maritime security and capacity building. “This is a truly special relationship and this relationship has matured into a very strong, robust and multifaceted partnership. This partnership spans areas like maritime security cooperation, development partnership, capacity building, health and education,” Srivastava told ANI.
“We anticipate very important agreements and announcements following the meetings between the two Prime Ministers, particularly in the areas of maritime security and capacity building,” he added.
The visit underscores India and Mauritius’s close and special relationship, rooted in shared history, culture, and people-to-people ties. It also reaffirms their joint commitment to enhancing bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors and promoting security and growth for all in the region.
