Lagatar24 Desk
Port Louis: India and Mauritius elevated their bilateral ties to an ‘enhanced strategic partnership’ on Wednesday as both nations signed eight agreements to bolster cooperation in various sectors, including trade, maritime security, and economic collaboration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also unveiled an ambitious vision for the Global South, further reinforcing India’s commitment to regional stability and growth.
PM Modi attended Mauritius’ National Day celebrations as the chief guest, with a contingent of Indian armed forces, an Indian Navy warship, and the Akash Ganga skydiving team of the Indian Air Force participating in the event.
Key Agreements Signed
The agreements signed between India and Mauritius will enhance cooperation in:
✔️ Use of national currencies for cross-border transactions
✔️ Maritime data sharing for regional security
✔️ Collaboration in combating money laundering
✔️ Strengthening the MSME sector for economic growth
Introducing ‘MAHASAGAR’ Vision for the Global South
PM Modi introduced a new policy approach, named “MAHASAGAR” (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), as an extension of India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, announced during his 2015 visit to Mauritius.
🔹 Key Focus Areas of MAHASAGAR:
✔️ Trade for development
✔️ Capacity building for sustainable growth
✔️ Mutual security for a shared future
✔️ Technology sharing, concessional loans, and grants
PM Modi emphasized the shared commitment of both nations to a free, open, and secure Indian Ocean, pledging India’s full support for the security of Mauritius’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
India’s Strategic Commitment to Mauritius
India reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Mauritius’ security and development, including:
✔️ Enhancing the country’s Coast Guard capabilities
✔️ Setting up a Police Academy
✔️ Establishing a National Maritime Information Sharing Centre
✔️ Strengthening cooperation in white shipping, blue economy, and hydrography
PM Modi also announced that India will help build a new Parliament building in Mauritius as a gift from the ‘Mother of Democracy’.
Support for Mauritius on Chagos Islands Issue
India has been supporting Mauritius in its efforts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with the UK over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. PM Modi reaffirmed India’s respect for Mauritius’ sovereignty in the dispute.
Mauritius’ new government under PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam has called for renegotiations over the agreement, signed last year, under which the UK agreed to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius but retain a 99-year lease over the Diego Garcia military base.
Elevated Bilateral Relations
PM Modi and PM Ramgoolam officially designated India-Mauritius ties as an “Enhanced Strategic Partnership.”
“We are each other’s partners in economic and social progress. Be it natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic, we have always stood by each other,” PM Modi stated.
India has expanded cooperation in defence, education, healthcare, space, and trade, setting new records in development cooperation.
New Development Projects in Mauritius
PM Modi also announced several India-assisted infrastructure projects in Mauritius, including:
✔️ Modernization of the 100-km-long water pipeline
✔️ Second phase of community development projects worth 500 million Mauritian Rupees
✔️ Local currency settlement for mutual trade
Mauritius has also benefited from various India-backed projects, such as:
✔️ Metro Express for urban transport
✔️ Supreme Court building for justice reform
✔️ Social housing projects
✔️ ENT Hospital for healthcare improvements
✔️ UPI and Rupay Card for promoting business and tourism
PM Modi and PM Ramgoolam also inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation, further strengthening educational collaboration.
People-to-People Ties
PM Modi highlighted the historical and cultural ties between India and Mauritius, with Indian-origin people making up nearly 70% of Mauritius’ 1.2 million population.
🔹 Key Cultural Initiatives Announced:
✔️ AI (Artificial Intelligence) and DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure) collaboration
✔️ Special arrangements for Char Dham Yatra and Ramayana Trail for Mauritian citizens
India remains one of Mauritius’ largest trading partners since 2005, underscoring the strong diplomatic and economic relationship between the two nations.
